The Pehonan hydroelectric project is a proposed 250 megawatt facility on the Saskatchewan River. The project brings together Brookfield, the James Smith Cree Nations (made up of three bands, James Smith Cree Nation, Cumberland 100A First Nation/Peter Chapman Band, and Chakastaypasin Band of the Cree) and Kiewit, the 5th largest contractor operating throughout North America.
The proposed Pehonan hydroelectric project will be located on the Saskatchewan River, upstream of the existing SaskPower Nipawin facility. Development of the project would increase the Province’s installed renewable generation capacity with proven clean technology that reduces green house gas emissions.
The project would enable the three bands of the James Smith Cree Nations to be equity partners, involved in the development and ownership of a long life power asset and providing a sustainable benefit stream for future generations.
To date, Brookfield has invested capital to progress the project through the pre-feasibility stage. The project is now entering the feasibility stage to determine the project’s viability from a social, technical and environmental perspective including completing the environmental assessments, which may take up to four years in total. Within eighteen months, a determination of the viability could be made that would launch the project into the formal environmental assessment application. As well, details of configuration and construction will be determined during the feasibility stage.