TRADITIONAL BLESSING OF THE LAND CEREMONY FOR THE NEWEG ENERGY PROJECT

IN NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA

May 15, 2024, New Brunswick, Canada – A traditional blessing of the land ceremony took place today to mark the official start of construction for its new energy project in New Brunswick, Canada. The Neweg Energy Project is a 25.2 MW project, owned in partnership with the Mi’gmaq United Investment Network (MUIN) and Natural Forces, that will bring sustainable and efficient energy solutions to the Atlantic region.

Representatives from MUIN, Natural Force, NB power, MTI, and Indigenous Services Canada attended to celebrate this milestone. The ceremony symbolizes the beginning of construction for this important project, which will create jobs, reduce carbon emissions, and contribute to the local economy.

NB Power will be supporting the Neweg Energy Project by purchasing the clean energy generated by the 6 wind turbines. This highlights a shared commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.

“The ceremony that took place at the project site was not just about shoveling dirt. This was an opportunity to bless and protect the area. This project is groundbreaking for the Mi’gmaq in New Brunswick. This is the first major project where multiple Mi’maq communities in New Brunswick have come together to hold a majority ownership in a project. The Neweg project will provide opportunities for training in the energy sector. This is a step towards self-sufficiency for our communities”, said Chief Rebecca Knockwood of Amlamgog.

“We celebrate this groundbreaking with our partners. This is another example of how First Nation-led projects help reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and bring great value to the ratepayers of New Brunswick”, said Robert Apold of Natural Forces.

“We are honoured to be part of this ceremonial ground-breaking event for the Neweg Energy Project. Seeing this project move forward is exciting and a great example of delivering on our strategic plan of a cleaner, greener energy supply. We are happy to celebrate this significant milestone alongside our Mi’gmaq partners and look forward to the next phase of development”, said Lori Clark, President and CEO, CNO of NB Power.

The Neweg Energy Project is expected to be operational in early 2025, providing clean and renewable energy for years to come.

About Neweg Energy Project

The Neweg Energy project is a wind project majority-owned by the Mi’kmaq in New Brunswick. The Neweg Energy Project is located, approximately 20 kilometers northeast of the Town of Sussex and 60 kilometers southeast of Fort Folly Nation. The Neweg Energy Project consists of 6 wind turbines with a collective installed capacity of approximately 25.2 MW. This size of project represents sufficient electricity generation to power approximately 8,000 New Brunswick homes. The Neweg Energy Project will provide a clean, stable source of electricity to help meet growing energy demands in New Brunswick through the generation of emission-free energy.

About The Mi’gmaq United Investment Network

The Mi’gmaq United Investment Network (MUIN) is the majority owner in the Neweg Energy Project MUIN was created by the Mi’gmaq First Nations in New Brunswick as a profit-sharing entity to explore economic opportunities, investments, and partnerships that can produce results for the Mi’gmaq communities in New Brunswick and their members.

About Natural Forces

Natural Forces is an independent power producer that develops, owns, and operates renewable energy projects. Natural Forces was established in 2001, Natural Forces is a private independent power producer that delivers renewable energy projects in partnership with local communities across Canada, Ireland and France. Collectively, Natural Forces has over 300 MW of renewable energy projects in operation across Canada, with several ongoing projects at various stages of completion in Canada, France, and Ireland.

For more information about the Neweg Energy Project and its partners, please contact:

Raven Boyer

Communications Coordinator

ravenboyer@migmawel.org

Sunita Menon

Communication Coordinator

smenon@naturalfroces.ca | (902) 526-2974