Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) and the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) plan to jointly back renewable energy infrastructure projects in Quebec. The newly formed partnership will offer financing for Indigenous investment proponents to obtain equity stakes in new developments in their territories.

The partnership also aims to provide capacity-building resources so that Indigenous proponents can assess investment opportunities, negotiate agreements with prospective partners and maximize the benefits for host communities. This builds on the expertise MCK has already acquired through its involvement, with project partner, Kruger Energy, in two wind farms, totalling 171 megawatts of electricity generating capacity, and a new 58-kilometre transmission line interconnecting Quebec and New York State, in partnership with Hydro Québec.

“We believe the time is right for our communities to participate in the energy transition by owning and benefiting from energy infrastructure on our ancestral lands,” says Cody Diabo, Grand Chief of the MCK. “We have developed this partnership to provide the economic opportunity for First Nations and Inuit communities to maximize their stake in large-scale energy infrastructure on their lands and benefit from the revenues generated.”

“This partnership to fund renewable energy infrastructure projects reflects our commitment to supporting sustainable and inclusive development initiatives while contributing to Québec’s energy transition,” concurs Emmanuel Jaclot, CDPQ’s head of infrastructure and executive vice president. “We are delighted to be working with the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke.”