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Clean Energy
Indigenous Infrastructure

Duchess Solar

Newell County, Alberta
Sector
Clean Energy, Indigenous Infrastructure
Region
Newell County, Alberta
Investment
$26.2 million
(Project complete)
Partner(s)
Cold Lake First Nations, Elemental Energy
Public impact(s)
↓17,800t CO2e annually

Advancing Cold Lake First Nations (CLFN) ownership of energy project

Enough clean electricity to power more than 7,000 Alberta homes. 

Fast facts

CLFN holds a majority ownership interest in the project
More than 100 jobs were created during peak of construction
Supporting future economic development opportunities for the First Nation

We provided a $26.2 million loan to support Cold Lake First Nations' majority ownership stake in Duchess Solar, a 19.8-megawatt solar facility located in Newell County, Alberta. 

Developed in partnership with Elemental Energy, the project was financed through a partnership involving the CIB, the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, Selkirk Advisory Group Inc. and The Equitable Life Insurance Company of Canada. 

The facility adds new and reliable energy capacity to Alberta’s grid through 49,700 solar photovoltaic panels and generates enough electricity to power more than 7,000 households annually.

Public lenders: Canada Infrastructure Bank, Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation 

Private lenders: Elemental Energy, Cold Lake First Nations, Equitable Life

Term (years): 26

Benefits of the CIB’s involvement

This project represents the CIB’s first Indigenous Equity Initiative loan to reach financial close supporting an Alberta-based project. Enabled by CIB financing, Cold Lake First Nation’s majority ownership position generates economic returns which can be reinvested in the community.

The CIB collaborates with First Nation, Métis and Inuit communities on new infrastructure in partnership with, and for the benefit of Indigenous communities across Canada.

Learn more

Disclaimer: The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) in its sole and absolute discretion may choose to make available amendments, revisions, modifications, or replacements to this website. This page will remain open for further revision, modification, replacement or cancellation by the CIB at any time and in no event shall the CIB be responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on the content of this website. Second image courtesy of Elemental Energy.

This project originated in 2025 under the CIB's Clean Power sector.
Aerial view of the Duchess solar farm with rows of solar panels across a prairie landscape.
Drone view of the Duchess solar facility featuring multiple solar panel arrays on open farmland.
Ground-level view of solar panels installed in a grassy field beneath a blue sky with scattered clouds.
Łouwe Chok ‘Touwe, Cold Lake First Nations

Cold Lake First Nations is honoured and proud to announce Duchess Solar with our partner Elemental Energy. Building from our vision of expanding our portfolio in clean energy, we look forward to development and operations of a project that will benefit our community for decades. We would like to acknowledge the commitment and creativity of our financial partners, the CIB, AIOC, Selkirk and Equitable Life who have made the financial resources possible for CLFN to hold a majority ownership position. We are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside our partners to deliver an innovative commercial structure.

Chief Kelsey Jacko
Elemental Energy

Elemental is very excited to complete this creative financing structure to support our growing partnership with Cold Lake First Nations as we look to collaborate to bring additional renewable energy projects to Alberta. We are grateful for the partnership with CLFN and the support of all the financial partners involved who worked diligently and collaboratively to get this across the line.

Jamie Houssian, Principal
AIOC

This project represents a powerful example of economic reconciliation in action. Through this Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation loan guarantee, we’re proud to help Cold Lake First Nations build generational wealth while contributing to Alberta’s transition to a more sustainable and reliable power grid — one that includes renewables paired with natural gas. This is what it looks like when Indigenous communities are in the driver’s seat of their own economic futures.

Chana Martineau, Chief Executive Officer
Selkirk

Selkirk greatly appreciates the opportunity to support Cold Lake First Nations and Elemental Energy with project financing for this important project, as well as the partnership of Equitable Life, AIOC and the CIB. This project is a great example of what can happen with creativity and collaboration. Selkirk is proud to have participated in such a meaningful way. We look forward to continuing to support the partners through construction and into operations, and in particular, to seeing the impactful economic benefits this project will generate for Cold Lake First Nations community for years to come.

 

Daniel Doubilet, Managing Partner
Equitable Life

Equitable is proud to play a role in this project which serves to provide additional clean energy to Alberta’s grid and economic benefits to Cold Lake First Nations for years to come. It was great to collaborate with Cold Lake First Nations and Elemental Energy and to partner with Selkirk, the CIB and AIOC.

Tara Proper, Executive Vice-President, Investments