The North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council (NSMTC), in partnership with BNRG Renewables, announced a potential joint development of a 150 MW solar project in Tantramar last week.
The proposed project is a 150 MW utility-scale solar energy array located in Cookville, approximately 20 kilometres northeast of Sackville. When complete, the project is expected to generate enough clean electricity to power approximately 12,500 homes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 62,000 tonnes annually.
The project is proposed to be developed west of Colville Village, alongside Cookville Road. The land parcel for the project has been stewarded by a local farming family. The project is designed to support continued agricultural use through “agrivoltaics,” which pairs farming activities with solar energy generation, by allowing for livestock grazing, beekeeping, and other forms of agricultural production under and around the solar panels.
NSMTC and BNRG formalized their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding in 2023. For the Cookville Solar project, NSMTC holds an exclusive option to take an equity position in the project. As a not-for-profit organization, revenue generated through this participation will flow back to NSMTC’s Member Nations and will be used to support their programs, services, and initiatives. BNRG has also committed to incorporating educational and apprenticeship opportunities for First Nations communities during the construction and operational phases of the project.
Jim Ward, general manager of the North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council, said the Cookville solar project is part of the broader energy transition happening in New Brunswick, and “as First Nations, it is critical that we are active participants in this transition and that our Member Nation communities have clear pathways to ownership.”
“Our priority is making sure the benefits of these projects reach our communities. We are creating economic opportunities now and building something that will continue to support our Member Nation communities for the next seven generations,” said Ward.
The project was registered for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with the province of New Brunswick on April 30, 2026. This process will include opportunities for public review and input as part of the provincial regulatory framework.
Community members are invited to attend an open house on May 27 at the Dorchester Veterans Community Centre from 6 to 8 pm to learn more about the project and ask questions.
