Canada Funds $11 Million in Indigenous Clean Energy Projects

Over the past decade, there have been various funding programs for renewable energy in remote communities. These programs lacked a crucial element, support. An initiative under the Clean Energy for Rural and Remote communities (CERRC) program is attempting to fix this problem while providing $11 million for projects in 15 Indigenous communities.

Canadian remote communities consume 682 million litres of diesel per year, creating heavy pollution that harms the environment and public health. Residents in these communities pay 6-10 more for energy than the rest of Canada, despite government subsidies. As mentioned, there have been several programs looking to shift these communities to renewable energy. These programs never achieved the expected level of success because the biggest issue, the transition, was never fully addressed.

Although diesel has many drawbacks, because of its reliability and portability in remote areas, it has been a primary source of energy for decades. Many Indigenous communities are not fully on board with renewables because of this, and because project timelines are drawn out due to difficult logistics.

Lynne Couves, the director of the Pembina Institute’s renewables in remote communities’ programs, says, “It’s not just about cost savings or reducing diesel dependency — it’s about empowerment, local control and making sure these communities are not at the mercy of external forces.” That is why the CERRC program includes an Indigenous Council of six leaders from First Nations, Inuit, and Métis that advises federal departments. It makes Indigenous communities more comfortable with the shift to renewables by ensuring that these communities have control and can generate income from these projects to reinvest in priorities like healthcare, education, and housing.

Borrum Energy Solutions thinks that this initiative is a fantastic idea, with one of our own goals being to empower remote communities by providing an opportunity to shift to renewable energy. We design microgeneration wind turbines and towers that can reduce diesel/propane costs while lowering carbon emissions and dependence on the electrical grid. These turbines and towers are also designed for the harsh weather found in Northern Canada's remote communities.