Wataynikaneyap Power is a First Nation-led company in Northern Ontario that was established in 2010. Wataynikaneyap Power first mandate was to "design, permit, construct, own and operate a 230 kV transmission line" which would provide "additional grid connection" to Pickle Lake.
The township, which is north of Thunder Bay, is the most northerly community in Ontario with year-round access by road via Highway 599, the only access road to the town from the south.
February 3, 2011, a Ministry of Energy Directive and the Ministry's November 23, 2010, Long Term Energy Plan supported the construction of this transmission line as phase one of a two-part process, to improve the connectivity of remote First Nation communities.
The "second phase would extend the grid north of Pickle Lake to service the remote communities." A December 6 news release said that "significant pre-development work" was completed.[1] The new transmission network will replace the polluting and expensive diesel generators that are used in remote Northwestern Ontario communities.
Twenty First Nations communities are equal owners of Wataynikaneyap Power.[2] [3] [4] Goldcorp had "provided early development funding" and had partnered with the First Nations communities from 2010 to 2015.[5]