NSMTC and BNRG announce 150 MW Cookville solar project, invite communities to upcoming open house
Cookville, NB – The North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council (NSMTC), in partnership with BNRG Renewables, is excited to announce the potential joint development of a 150 MW solar project in Cookville, located in Westmorland County.
Project Overview
The proposed project is a 150 MW utility-scale solar energy array located in southeastern New Brunswick, approximately 20 kilometres northeast of Sackville. When complete, the project is expected to generate enough clean electricity to power approximately 12,500 homes and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 62,000 tonnes annually, equivalent to the emissions produced by approximately 14,000 cars each year.
Land and Stewardship
The project is proposed to be developed west of Colville Village, alongside Cookville Road, on the unceded and unsurrendered territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Existing transmission infrastructure in the area makes Cookville a strong location to deliver clean, renewable electricity.
The land parcel for the Cookville Solar project has been stewarded by a local farming family for five generations. The project is designed to support continued agricultural use through “agrivoltaics”, which involves pairing farming activities with solar energy generation, by allowing for livestock grazing, bee keeping, and other forms of agricultural production under and around the solar panels. At the end of the project’s lifecycle, the land will be restored to support continued agricultural use.
Partnership and Community Benefits
NSMTC and BNRG formalized their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding in 2023, establishing a long-term approach to renewable energy development in New Brunswick. For the Cookville Solar project, NSMTC holds an exclusive option to take an equity position in the project, with the potential to take a majority ownership stake.
As a not-for-profit organization, revenue generated through this participation will flow back to NSMTC’s Member Nations and will be used to support NSMTC’s programs, services, and initiatives, ensuring that the benefits of the project contribute to community priorities.
BNRG has also committed to incorporating educational and apprenticeship opportunities for First Nations communities during the construction and operational phases of the project.
Next Steps
The project was registered for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with the Province of New Brunswick on April 30, 2026. This process will include opportunities for public review and input as part of the provincial regulatory framework.
NSMTC and BNRG are committed to meaningful community engagement throughout the development of this project. The project is being advanced with input from community leaders in Amlamgog First Nation and the Tantramar region.
Community members are invited to attend an open house to learn more about the project and ask questions:
Date: May 27, 2026
Time: 6pm to 8pm
Location: The Dorchester Veterans Community Centre – 4955 Main St, Dorchester, NB E4K 2Y7
Quotes
“Our responsibility is to our community and our families. It is important that projects like this reflect our priorities and respect our land. I am proud to see Amlamgog continue to take a leading role in the energy transition in a way that keeps our people at the centre. We are supportive of the work being done and want to make sure our people have the opportunity to learn more, ask questions, and be part of the process as it moves forward.”
– Chief Rebecca, Amlamgog First Nation
“The Cookville Solar project is part of the broader energy transition happening in New Brunswick. As First Nations, it is critical that we are active participants in this transition and that our Member Nation communities have clear pathways to ownership. Our priority is making sure the benefits of these projects reach our communities. We are creating economic opportunities now and building something that will continue to support our Member Nation communities for the next seven generations.”
– Jim Ward, General Manager, North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council
“BNRG are proud to work in partnership with The North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council to develop this important project for the Province of New Brunswick. The project is a milestone in the roadmap of New Brunswick on the energy transition journey and in diversifying the power generation in the province. BNRG have always prioritised local communities and biodiversity at the centre of all the projects it delivers and this project continues this legacy. In addition to supplying the equivalent of green power to over 12,500 homes every year, the project will deliver tangible benefits to local communities.”
– David Maguire, CEO, BNRG
“The municipality of Tantramar has always been committed to environmental stewardship and doing our part to ensure that our residents feel that Council is protecting the spaces that we live, work, and play. Climate change is a reality that we all face but at the municipal level there is much that can be done, from the support and advice of our Climate Change Advisory Committee, the inclusion of climate in our 3-year strategic plan, and the support and collaboration on projects such as the Cookville Solar Project. More investment in renewable, non-fossil-fuel projects such as this benefit all of New Brunswick and is a huge step in greenhouse gas reduction in Tantramar and province wide.”
– Andrew Black, Mayor of the Town of Tantramar
About the North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council
The NSMTC is a not-for-profit organization committed to advancing the health, sustainability, and economic prosperity of its Member Nations. The NSMTC primarily serves the Ugpi’ganjig (Eel River Bar), Oinpegitjoig (Pabineau), Natoaganeg (Eel Ground), Metepenagiag (Red Bank), L’nui Menikuk (Indian Island), Tjipõgtõtjg (Buctouche), and Amlamgog (Fort Folly) while extending support to 25 additional First Nations across Atlantic Canada. The council provides service delivery, technical support, and capacity-building in water and waste management, housing and infrastructure, post-secondary education funding, training and employment, community development, clean energy opportunities, environmental stewardship, and health service coordination.
About BNRG Renewables
Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland with operations in Ireland, the US, the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia, BNRG is a pioneering developer and operator of solar projects led by a team of individuals united by a passion to change the world through solar technology and investment. Since 2007, BNRG has worked alongside development, technology and investment partners to finance, build, manage and own solar farms that today produce more than 150,000 MWh of clean electricity, with more than 3.5 GW of active projects in the development pipeline.
BNRG is not just interested in developing land or managing solar farms; they take a full project life-cycle approach to every one of their projects. From the first discussions with the landowner and community to the day a solar farm begins exporting its clean energy into the grid, BNRG works closely with local partners to shepherd each project through every milestone. BNRG’s full life-cycle approach also lets them identify economies and invest in new technologies at each stage, ensuring they can deliver affordable green energy from every project, in every region where they operate.
Media Inquiries
For media-related questions, contact:
Kenny Wheeler
Media Contact, BNRG
kwheeler@bnrg.ie | 405.443.7531
Vanessa McLaughlin
Communications Officer, North Shore Mi’kmaq Tribal Council
vanessamclaughlin@nsmtc.ca | 506.210.1705