One small solar panel started big East Coast dreams for energy self-sufficiency

A clean energy revolution in a Prince Edward Island First Nation was started by one small solar panel system atop the community’s school. It was the nation’s only claim to renewable energy in 2021.

But then, Drew Bernard, the ambitious young energy leader from Lennox Island First Nation, graduated from community college with a mission to make his nation energy self sufficient. Now, the community of about 400 people is working toward large-scale renewable projects, a revamped greenhouse and a major retrofit campaign on every house. 

“Only three years later, we certainly view ourselves as one of the national leaders in terms of holistic community energy,” Bernard said. 

Prince Edward Island is one of the most progressive provinces when it comes to renewable energy, said Bernard, who was excited for the opportunity to work with the province and industry on energy projects as part of a pathway to self-determination and energy sovereignty for his First Nation. 

Lennox Island’s vision is to become a provincial energy powerhouse by developing their own non-profit utility to ensure electricity rates remain low and affordable for their people. It’s a model he saw work in the neighbouring township, Summerside. The town operates its own non-profit utility and a massive solar farm. 

Bernard got to work, penning deals with the province to develop 45 megawatts (MW) of power from wind development in the region. Lennox Island also lobbied the government and acquired 100 acres of Crown land to develop a solar project. 

The solar project emerged from an energy opportunity assessment that Lennox Island completed early in Bernard’s role as energy lead for his nation. It identified an opportunity for a small solar project of about two MW near the highway and 10 minutes from Lennox Island. When Bernard stood where the small solar farm would be, he looked out at large swaths of Crown land and wondered why Lennox Island should restrain their ambition. 

“Why would I do a small solar project when I could develop this entire swath of Crown land right next to it and make almost the entirety of Western P.E.I. net zero, and make an economic impact for my community?” he asked himself. 

He took the proposal to the government, with a reminder of the province's clean energy targets and the necessity for reconciliation. A verbal agreement to transfer the land was made, and this year, Lennox Island received the letter of intent along with $2 million from the federal government for pre-development work. 

However, Lennox Island is not only interested in major energy projects. The First Nation has taken a holistic approach to the energy transition. 

The community’s energy audit has led to energy-efficient retrofits, sometimes called the “unseen” battleground against climate change. Since the audit, the community has installed 65 heat pumps — a heat pump for every home. The community has also just approved the province’s oil-to-heat pump system, opening up $25,000 for each home on the First Nation to convert all houses to a fully electric heating system supplemented with with more heat pumps, electric hot water heaters, electric wall units and keeping the oil systems in as backup heat sources. 

The community is also retrofitting its partially geothermal greenhouse. However, the First Nation still needs heat pumps to ensure the greenhouse's viability all year, leading to the pursuit of elevated solar panels over the soil, called agrovoltaics, to ensure the viability of the grow space underneath. 

In addition, electric-charging stations — two Level Two and one Level Three — have been installed to prepare for the switch to electric vehicles.

But the big question for the future of an electric-driven, energy-sovereign Lennox Island will be storage. The world is pondering this question as it shifts to renewables that ebb and flow depending on when the sun shines or the wind blows. 

The First Nation wanted to construct wind turbines on their reserve, which faces the Atlantic Ocean. However, their territory sits on the world-renowned Malpeque Bay, which has received both national and international recognition for its bird habitats. Concerned about the potential impact on wildlife, the community ultimately blocked Lennox Island from moving forward with wind turbines. Lennox Island could have launched an environmental study to push for development with environmental caveats, but Bernard says the nation takes its role as steward seriously.

“We have a responsibility as Mi'kmaq people that we're not developing energy systems within sensitive areas,” Bernard said. “And we have a responsibility to Mother Earth — it's not always about money, it's about what's environmentally responsible.” 

The First Nation is still pursuing large, utility-scale projects to ensure it has enough energy, and has other ideas in mind, as well.. Bernard points to 10 fishing vessels that Lennox Island wants to electrify. Plans are in place to see if the First Nation could use electrified fishing vessels as battery storage over the 10 months outside of lobster season when they are not used, but more research is needed on how battery degradation might affect the vessels. 

Energy storage could require large-scale, low-level projects like pumped storage. However, Bernard notes that P.E.I. is essentially “one large sand bar,” making the elevation necessary for pumped storage harder to find. 

Still, Bernard sees energy sovereignty and the non-profit utility model as scalable for Indigenous Nations, but only if utilities allow them.

“I really believe that decentralized energy systems is really what the future will rely on,” he said. 

Matteo Cimellaro / Canada’s National Observer / Local Journalism Initiative