Indigenous community launches solar powered health centre

One of Alberta’s biggest solar projects has been built in one of the most unlikely places—the heart of Canada’s Peace River oil sands. This summer the community of Little Buffalo launched the Piitapan Solar Project, a 20.8kW renewable energy installation that powers the health centre. The inspiring 80-panel solar project was developed in a bid to create more green jobs and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

SOLAR IN THE TAR SANDS features Melina Laboucan-Massimo and community members of Lubicon Lake installing solar panels for their community health center. After decades of detrimental impacts from immense resource extraction and a recent massive oil spill in Lubicon territory, this community is showing the world and other First Nation communities that the shift to renewables is possible.