Read about the Oneida Project which launched under budget and ahead of schedule.
Six Nations Energy & Employment Fair: Learn more about Indigenous energy projects at Six Nations!
Six Nations Energy & Employment Fair: Learn more about Indigenous energy projects at Six Nations!
On May 6th, 2025, Green Venture attended an Energy and Employment fair at the Six Nations Community Hall. The event, organized by Six Nations Public Works, included free lunch and dinner, multiple door prizes (including 2 hackberry trees donated by Green Venture), live music, art vendors, and hundreds of attendees.
Our energy team spent the day connecting with people, sharing Green Venture’s message and information on energy programs, including workshops, education, and energy audits.
Our team also brought along Green Venture’s travelling seed library (which was empty by the end of the day!).
We also spoke with other organizations, learning about energy work they do in or around Six Nations. First Nations Power Authority (FNPA), for example, facilitates the development of First-Nations-led power projects, acting as a liaison between industry, government, and Indigenous communities to ensure meaningful involvement of and benefits to Indigenous communities. We also spoke with Cambium Indigenous Professional Services (CIPS), an Indigenous owned and operated environmental consulting and technical services company who collaborated with Green Venture in 2024 to offer energy audits for homes in Six Nations.
Representatives from the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), which runs energy efficiency programs through Save On Energy, also gave insight into their community engagement and partnering methods in Six Nations.
Keepers of the Circle, Canadian Institute for Energy Training (CIET inc.), Six Nations Polytechnic, and Relay Education, shared information about their educational and/or training and professional development opportunities. Keepers of the Circle, for example, offers both training opportunities and educational programs for all ages for Indigenous peoples.
We also spoke with the Six Nations Development Corporation (SNGRDC), who had an exciting project update on their Oneida Energy Storage Project announced the next day.
Oneida Energy Storage Project
The day after the Six Nations Energy and Employment Fair, on May 7th, 2025, Oneida LP announced the start of the Oneida Energy Storage Project (the “Oneida Project”), Canada’s largest battery energy storage system. The Oneida Energy Storage facility is located in Haldimand County, Ontario.
Six Nations Development Corporation, 2025
Oneida LP is made up of Northland Power Inc. (the majority owner of the facility), Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation (SNGRDC), NRStor Inc., Aecon Concessions, and the Mississaugas of the Credit Business Corporation (MCBC). This project launched $100 million below budget (originally estimated at $800 million in 2023) and ahead of schedule.
Battery energy storage systems draw power from the energy grid during off-peak hours. This stored energy can then be put back into the electricity grid when energy demand is high. Oneida LP has a 20-year contract with the IESO, a Crown corporation that manages Ontario’s energy grid and demand, to sell stored energy to the grid.
The Oneida Project’s 278 lithium-ion battery units more than double the province’s energy storage capability, increasing capacity from 225 MW to 475 MW. This storage facility is “expected to reduce emissions by an estimated 1.2 – 4.1 million tonnes over the life of the project, the equivalent to taking more than 40,000 cars off the road.” Selling stored energy back to the electricity grid can displace energy from gas and oil that often supplements Ontario’s power supply during peak demand hours.
Windpower Engineering, 2025
In addition to managing energy demand, energy storage provides reliability in the transition to renewable energy sources like wind and solar, serving as a backup when renewable energy production changes due to unpredictable weather.
This partnership marks a milestone in Indigenous involvement in clean energy initiatives and Indigenous energy sovereignty. Not only will the facility create jobs for Indigenous individuals in Six Nations, it will also create revenue for Six Nations, as revenue generated by SNGRDC is invested into the Six Nations community.
Thank you to Six Nations Public Works for inviting Green Venture to participate in the Energy and Employment Fair. It was an exciting day to learn about other organizations’ energy initiatives in Six Nations, and to connect with community members.
Congratulations to the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation for the beginning of the Oneida Project. Green Venture looks forward to seeing the continued success of the new battery energy storage facility!
Interested in learning more about battery energy storage?
- Read the blog post by the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation on the Oneida Energy Storage Project.
- Watch Green Venture’s Energy Transition 101 webinar to learn about Ontario’s transition to clean energy. Skip to 21:30 for an introduction to battery energy storage.
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