Otipemisiwak Métis Government Celebrates Prestigious Emerald Award Win for Salay Prayzaan Solar Project
Posted on: Jun 11, 2025
The Otipemisiwak Métis Government is proud to announce that Salay Prayzaan, the Métis Crossing Solar Project, has been awarded the 2025 Emerald Award in the Energy category by the Alberta Emerald Foundation. This award honours Salay Prayzaan’s remarkable contribution to Alberta’s renewable energy future and highlights the commitment of the Métis Nation in advancing sustainable solutions.
Located at Métis Crossing, Salay Prayzaan is a 4.86-megawatt AC solar farm capable of generating enough renewable electricity to offset the power needs of all Otipemisiwak Métis Government buildings and affiliate operations across Alberta, which is the equivalent of powering nearly 1,200 Alberta homes every year.
“This is a proud moment for the Métis people of Alberta,” said Andrea Sandmaier, President of the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. “Salay Prayzaan is more than a solar project, it is living proof of our Nation’s commitment to environmental leadership and the strength of working together. This award recognizes the hard work of our communities and partners in building a greener future for everyone.”
The success of Salay Prayzaan was made possible thanks to the vision and dedication of many partners, including Métis Crossing, ATCO, the Town of Smoky Lake, Carvel Electric, Smoky Lake County, and Arcadis. Funding support was provided by:
- The Government of Alberta through the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre’s Municipal Community Generation Challenge (a partnership of Alberta Municipalities, Rural Municipalities of Alberta, and the Government of Alberta)
- Natural Resources Canada through the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program
- Environment and Climate Change Canada through the Low Carbon Economy Fund
“This is Métis innovation at its best,” said Aura Leddy, Secretary of Environment, Climate Change & Emergency Management. “Our ancestors lived sustainably with the land, and today we honour that legacy by advancing large-scale renewable energy projects like Salay Prayzaan. This project represents what’s possible when we bring Indigenous leadership, industry, and governments together.”
To learn more about Salay Prayzaan, visit:
https://albertametis.com/programs-services/environment-climate/solar-power/
To learn more about the Alberta Emerald Foundation, visit:
https://emeraldfoundation.ca/aef_awards/salay-prayzaan-at-metis-crossing-the-metis-crossing-solar-project/
Media Contact:
Kenny Trenton, Press Secretary
Otipemisiwak Métis Government
Email: k.trenton@metis.org
