Salmon River Energy Project

Community impact

This project empowers the Wolastoqey Nation through majority ownership and a stable, long-term revenue stream while providing clean, renewable electricity to the equivalent of 43,000 New Brunswick homes annually. By braiding Indigenous Knowledge into the environmental review process, it ensures that the project proceeds with a lens that honors both western science and ancestral wisdom to a degree greater than the status quo.

Client name

Wolastoqey Nation (in partnership with Natural Forces)

Location

Southern New Brunswick

Project Description

The Salmon River Wind Project (name to be determined through a community-led process) is a landmark renewable energy initiative in southern New Brunswick. Wolastoqey majority-owned, and developed in partnership with Natural Forces, the project represents a significant step forward in Indigenous leadership and environmental stewardship. 

With an expected capacity of approximately 203 MW—enough to power roughly 43,000 New Brunswick homes annually—this initiative is a stable, long-term revenue source for the Wolastoqey Nation.

SOAR Professional Services has been a dedicated partner to the Wolastoqey Nation since this project’s inception, providing the multi-disciplinary expertise required to move this project from concept to reality.

Our involvement includes:

  • Guiding high-level strategic and procurement decisions.
  • Supporting negotiations of the Power Purchase Agreement.
  • Assisting with the development and implementation of the business structure.
  • Providing expert support during negotiations for project funding.
  • Regulatory Environmental Permitting utilizing an Indigenous Knowledge Braiding approach.  

SOAR continues to provide dedicated business and partnership support to the Wolastoqey Nation, ensuring their interests are represented as the project advances.

In addition to our business advisory role, SOAR is also supporting the meaningful braiding of Indigenous perspectives into the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. SOAR is working with the project proponents to enhance the current provincial standard and work towards stronger, more holistic EIA documents, regardless of the minimum regulatory direction.

To achieve this, our team is:

  • Facilitating in-person and on-the-land sessions to understand community questions and identify knowledge gaps within Western science methodologies.
  • Developing and implementing systems for the respectful collection, storage, and utilization of Indigenous Knowledge as directed by Wolastoqey Nation.
  • Empowering the Wolastoqey Nation and bolstering their continuous, active involvement throughout the entire regulatory review process.
  • Ensuring Wolastoqey Perspectives have led to meaningful changes to the project design and permitting requirements.

To read more about this project, click here.