National Wind Watch: Wind Energy News » Samsung deal unravels

OSHWEKEN -A tentative deal with electronics giant Samsung to include Six Nations in a massive wind and solar energy project has come to an end.

Six Nations band council announced this week that the memorandum of understanding that it signed a year ago won’t be renewed because the two sides couldn’t agree on how to proceed.

A news release from the band indicates the two parties couldn’t agree on a plan that “would be in the best interest of the people of Six Nations, as well as the surrounding communities.”

Chief Coun. Bill Montour thanked Samsung and the province for their willingness to work with Six Nations.

“Our community recognizes the value of partnerships with the private sector to help create good development that will bring jobs and prosperity for our people.

The project was to be part of a provincial undertaking. Ontario and Samsung had also signed a green energy investment agreement about developing a set of wind and solar power facilities that would eventually generate 16,000 jobs in the province.

Samsung planned to create Six Nations projects, such as a 10-megawatt solar farm, that would employ more than 1,000 people.

Now, said Montour in the news release, Six Nations continues to take “a lead role” in discussions with other private sector companies who “understand the value of partnering with First Nations and recognize the unique opportunities that this partnership presents.”

Montour said the reserve remains committed to the idea of the Green Energy hub.

“I strongly believe that the best way to bring prosperity to our people is to work with our neighbours, the province and the private sector,

“However, the agreements must always make sense for our people.”