Open houses on two Rainy River District solar projects scheduled for May/June

Toronto-based Carbon Free Solar is ready to move forward on two solar projects in the Rainy River District.

The Independent Electricity System Operator recently approved a 140 megawatt (MW) project to be located in the unorganized township of Miscampbell and a 50 MW project north of Barwick.

Carbon Free’s Vice-President of Project Development Doug Deeks says it will be at least another year before installation takes place.

“Next step really is detailed engineering permitting, and that’ll be substantially what takes place in 2026,” says Deeks.

“Following that, procurement will take place based on permitting. Best laid plans are that installation would start in 2027.”

Deek says site preparations will not likely be started until the permitting process is complete.

The company was proactive in starting some of the work associated with environmental assessment to aid in the permitting.

“We did the body of that work in 2025 and into where we are now in 2026, and that will be submitted this year,” says Deeks.

Carbon Free is working with Rainy River First Nation on the project near Barwick and with Couchiching First Nation on the Miscampbell one.

Both are also being developed as Agrivoltaic projects, where the lands remain open for grazing.

Deeks says it will be very similar to another solar site in the west end of the district.

“If people go by the Stratton solar farm, the existing one that’s with Rainier River First Nations, 300 acres is already deployed with a sheep grazing operation.”

Open houses are scheduled in the coming months for the public to learn more about the projects.

An open house on the Miscampbell project, identified as Carbon Solar Fort Frances, takes place on May 5th, from 6-8 p.m. at the East End Hall in Fort Frances.

An open house on the Barwick project is slated for June 9th at the Barwick Community Centre.