Indigenous Ownership in Alberta's Power Sector
- IEM
- Nov 23
- 4 min read
Updated: Nov 26
Alberta is emerging as a national leader in both renewable energy development and Indigenous ownership of power infrastructure. As the province’s electricity demand continues to grow, driven by industrial expansion, population increases, and grid modernization, Alberta’s deregulated market has created new pathways for Indigenous communities to participate directly in energy development. Supported by federal incentives and the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation, Indigenous equity ownership is becoming a defining feature of Alberta’s energy transition. In response, IEM prepared this article exploring the current landscape of Indigenous participation and ownership in Alberta’s power sector.
Alberta's Grid at a Glance
As of 2024, Alberta has an estimated 23,122 megawatts (MW) of installed electricity generation capacity and one of the most diverse and dynamic power systems in Canada (AESO). Unlike most provinces, Alberta operates a fully deregulated, competitive electricity market, where private generators produce power and sell it directly into the grid.
Renewable energy continues to expand rapidly: wind, solar, and hydro accounted for roughly 19% of Alberta’s total electricity generation in 2024, up from 17% the previous year (AESO)
The scale of Alberta’s electricity market is also significant. In 2024, 384 market participants transacted approximately $7.6 billion in energy through the province’s wholesale power market (AESO).
Indigenous Ownership Landscape
Alberta is currently home to 50 power and utility projects over 0.5 MW across various stages of development that have Indigenous equity ownership. All data is sourced from our Indigenous Energy Ownership Tracker (IEOT).
Indigenous-Owned Projects by Type in Alberta
Alberta Indigenous-Owned Projects Insights:
Most of the projects are solar farms.
Most of the projects are either majority or wholly-owned by Indigenous communities.
Project sizes range from 0.5 MW - 900 MW.
35 Alberta Indigenous communities and organizations hold equity ownership stakes.
Most of the projects are currently in operation.
This growing portfolio not only reflects the growing demand for energy in Alberta, but also deeper commitments toward reconciliation and energy sovereignty.
Case Studies
The following projects are some examples of operating Indigenous-owned power & utility projects in Alberta:
⚡Cypress Wind Farm
247 MW wind power project located near Medicine Hat, Alberta
Owned by EDF Renewables and Kainai Nation (25% stake)
Operating since 2023
Government funding programs utilized
⚡Southwest 240kV Transmission Line Project - Piikani Portion
90km tranmission line in Southern Alberta
Owned by AltaLink and Piikani First Nation (51% stake)
Operating since 2010
⚡Deerfoot Solar Project
41 MW solar project located in Calgary, Alberta
Owned by Deerfoot Solar LP (ATCO, Chiniki First Nation, Goodstoney First Nation)
51% Indigenous-owned
Operating since 2023
All data is sourced from our IEOT.
Indigenous Energy Institutions in Alberta
Indigenous participation and ownership in Alberta’s power sector is being accelerated by a strong institutional foundation, led by the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (AIOC) and a growing network of Indigenous economic development organizations across the province.
The AIOC is a government organization founded to help facilitate Indigenous ownership of energy assets in Alberta. Through its loan-guarantee program—recently expanded to $3 billion—AIOC enables First Nations and Métis communities to take meaningful ownership stakes in oil & gas, power, utilities, and renewable energy projects. By reducing financing barriers and de-risking investment, AIOC has become one of the most influential tools in advancing Indigenous equity in Alberta.
Benefits of Ownership
Equity ownership provides long-term, community-led value well beyond one-time agreements or impact benefits. Key benefits include:
Revenue Generation: Long-term, stable income through equity agreements that last the full project lifecycle (often 25–40 years), supporting economic independence.
Local Jobs and Capacity Building: Employment opportunities during construction and operations, with longer-term roles in governance, asset management, and administration. Projects also support skills training, business development, and community capacity.
Control and Stewardship: Indigenous ownership enables Indigenous communities to embed cultural values and traditional knowledge into project design, environmental monitoring, and land use planning.
Reinvestment in Community Priorities: Revenues are often redirected to housing, education, health care, youth programs, language revitalization, and infrastructure, enabling self-determined development at the community level.
Challenges and Evolving Landscape
Despite strong momentum, Indigenous communities still face structural and systemic challenges in developing and owning energy projects:
Regulatory Complexity: Environmental assessments, permitting, land access, and alignment with provincial and federal processes can be resource-intensive.
Interconnection and Transmission Constraints: Many clean energy opportunities are located in remote or underserved regions where Alberta's grid lacks sufficient infrastructure to connect new projects.
Access to Capital: Equity investments require upfront capital that many communities cannot access without external loan guarantees or blended financing tools. Even with federal and provincial supports, not all communities are positioned to participate equally.
The Future of Indigenous Power in Alberta
Alberta is rapidly emerging as a leader in Indigenous ownership of renewable energy. The province's deregulated electricity market has opened new pathways for Indigenous equity in power and utility projects. Indigenous communities and organizations across Alberta are already securing ownership stakes, developing community-led projects, and negotiating stronger roles in governance and long-term operations. With improved access to capital and growing developer demand for Indigenous partnerships, this momentum is expected to accelerate.
Looking ahead, Indigenous ownership is poised to become a core feature of Alberta’s energy transition, supporting economic sovereignty, stable revenue generation, and long-term community prosperity.
How IEM is Supporting Transparency
We’re actively tracking Indigenous participation in Canada’s growing energy sector as part of our Indigenous Energy Ownership Tracker (IEOT). The IEOT is currently tracking over 480 Indigenous-owned projects across 5 sectors - oil & gas, power & utilities, chemicals & fuel, CCUS, and mining & minerals.
By centralizing and visualizing ownership data, we help communities, developers, and policymakers:
Identify where Indigenous equity is being deployed
Benchmark successful ownership models
Understand trends across regions and sectors
Discover funding sources that get projects built
Build partnerships based on evidence
And so much more
🔗Discover the IEOT Tool Here: https://www.indigenousenergymonitor.ca/ieot
Stay Informed, Get Involved
Whether you’re an Indigenous economic development group, a project developer, a researcher, or a polciy maker, IEM's transparency and data are essential.
🔗 Explore our solutions: www.indigenousenergymonitor.ca
📩 Contact us: info@indigenousenergymonitor.ca
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