Aeolis Wind signs MOU with Halfway River First Nation

Friday, May 29, 2009

Photo:  Chief Ed Whitford of Halfway River First Nation and Juergen Puetter, CEO & President of Aeolis Wind Power Corporation, shake hands following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding - Submitted

Aeolis Wind Power Corporation and the Halfway River First Nation have signed a memorandum of understanding.

The memorandum was signed Thursday in Vancouver as a way to create relationship to develop the Hackney and Thunder Mountain wind energy projects. The Hackney Hills project is located inside the traditional territory of the Halfway River First Nation, located about 45km from Hudson’s Hope. The other wind project will be developed southeast of Tumbler Ridge.

With the M.O.U, the company hopes to provide a framework to address issues surrounding the development of the wind projects. The issues include:

• Protection of Environment, Land, and Resources and Aboriginal and Treaty Rights through Consultation
• Education, Training & Community Development, and
• Economic Opportunities

The Halfway River First Nation will be working closely with Aeolis Wind on the environmental assessments of both wind projects and Aeolis will negotiate in good faith on a more detailed impact benefits agreement.

The first phase of the Hackney Hills Wind project would have a capacity of up to 370 megawatts.