Métis solar farm wins prestigious Emerald Award

Salay Prazyaan is a solar farm near Métis Crossing, Alta. (Otipemisiwak Métis Government)

A solar farm in Métis Crossing is turning heads after winning a prestigious energy award.

The Métis Cross Solar Project, or Salay Prazyaan, was awarded the 2025 Emerald Award in the energy category by the Alberta Emerald Foundation.

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The project is a 4.86-megawatt AC solar farm that was completed in 2023 by the Otipemisiwak Métis Government. The farm is capable of generating the equivalent of 1,200 homes per 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.”

Salay Prayzaan, which means “a gift from the sun” in Michif, offsets 4,700 tonnes of CO2 annually and will prevent 110,000 tonnes of emissions over its 25-year life span. It is the largest Métis-owned solar project in the country with 12,840 panels.

A portion of its revenue supports a community development fund that invests in local sustainability projects.

The Otipemisiwak Métis Government said the project created five to 10 permanent jobs. During construction, which began in September 2022, up to 50 people were working on the project.

“The initiative stood out to our third-party panel of judges for its work to decrease emissions from Alberta’s grid, and for powerfully representing the long-term, reciprocal connection between Métis people and the environment,” said a statement from the Emerald Foundation. “It’s collaborative, community-driven projects like this that are guiding us toward a more sustainable and resilient future for our province.”

Since 1992, the Alberta Emerald Foundation has showcased organizations, projects and individuals across the province who raise the bar in addressing environmental challenges.

Emerald Award recipients receive a $1,500 grant to further environmental work, a custom trophy made out of recycled chopsticks, courtesy of ChopValue YYC, and a segment in a documentary highlighting their contributions.