AltaLink and Piikani Nation approve important partnership

“In exchange for getting permission or consent from the Piikani to take the transmission line across their lands – which ultimately resulted in a shorter transmission line and saved Alberta ratepayers money, we extended the Piikani the option to purchase up to 51 percent of that transmission line, that portion of that’s on their reserve lands, and that’s what they’ve recently exercised.”

This means that the Piikani Nation are now 51 percent owners of the transmission line, bringing in a new revenue stream for the community.

Rihn said this project has been in the works for some time, with many people involved.

“It really started with consultation between AltaLink and the Piikani. There was the commercial aspect of the project but there were also the natural, cultural, environmental and landowner and stakeholder discussions that needed to occur,” he noted.

“Both the Piikani and AltaLink worked on those over a couple of years. The Nation provided input into the project, influenced how the project would be routed on their lands, worked with us on the consultation process with their members on the Nation, so that was one piece of it.”

He added that in parallel to those discussions, there were talks on the commercial side of the operation.

“Frankly, those are fairly straight-forward. The arrangement allows the Piikani to enjoy the same financial benefits for their investment that AltaLink would be able to enjoy had that investment remained exclusively ours,” he explained.

“They’ll be benefiting from that investment over the next 40 to 50 years.”

Rihn added that they believe the investment can provide financial security going forward.

“As owners of a regulated transmission asset, they have that financial security of those future regulated revenue streams that not only the current generation, but future generations are going to continue to benefit from,” he said.

“Presumably, the Nation will be able to take some of those proceeds and re-invest in projects or initiatives that are a priority for them, and then there’s just a symbolic value of being able to be majority owners of this linear infrastructure that is on their land.”

From AltaLink’s side of the operation, Rihn said they’re very happy for the Piikani Nation.

“Not only the current Chief and Council, but previous chiefs and councils that worked on this deal over a number of years, and we’re just really excited to be their partner.”

LNN has reached out to the Piikani Nation for further comment.

by Justin Goulet

AltaLink and Piikani Nation approve important partnership

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