The Government of Canada recently announced an investment of $21.6 million for 14 Indigenous energy champions and their communities to begin implementing clean energy projects, through the Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative (IODI).
“Local leadership is the key to building a clean and resilient future. These energy champions—all from remote communities in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador—are all leaders in their communities, and I commend them for their work,” said Yvonne Jones, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources and to the Minister of Northern Affairs.
A distinguished, all-Indigenous panel of jurors approved the participating communities to each receive up to $1.6 million in funding:
- H̓íkila qṇts n̓ála’áx̌v (protecting our world), Heiltsuk Economic Development Corporation, Heiltsuk Nation, British Columbia – led by the Haíłzaqv Climate Action Team
- Solar North Phase 2, Old Masset New Housing Energy Efficiency, Solar South, Haida Wind, Haida Nation, Haida Gwaii, British Columbia – led by Energy Champion Sean Brennan
- Advancing the Implementation of Vision 2030,Nuxalk Nation, British Columbia – led by Energy Champion Vince Robinson
- Beaufort Delta Renewable Resource Plan, Nihtat Energy Ltd., Aklavik and Inuvik, Northwest Territories – led by Energy Champion Grant Sullivan
- Tetlit Zheh Community Energy Plan, Teetl’it Gwich’in Band Council, Fort McPherson, Northwest Territories – led by Energy Champion Richard Nerysoo
- Solar PV Rooftop Installation & Hydro Feasibility Study, Deline Got’ine Government, Deline, Northwest Territories – led by Energy Champion Tim Tutcho
- Community-Wide Home Retrofit development and implementation, Hamlet of Kugaaruk, Kugaaruk, Nunavut – led by Energy Champion Alex Ittimangnaq
- Coral Harbour Solar and Energy Storage Project, Naujaat Solar and Energy Storage Project, Sakku Investments Corporation, Coral Harbour and Naujaat, Nunavut – led by Energy Champion Blaine Chislett
- Gjoa Haven Clean Energy Implementation, Hamlet of Gjoa Haven, Gjoa Haven, Nunavut – led by Energy Champion Jimmy Arqviq
- High Performance Residential and Commercial Buildings, ArchTech Inc., Baker Lake, Nunavut – led by Energy Champion Alex Cook
- Clean Energy Plan Implementation, Nunatsiavut Government, Nain, Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik and Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, Newfoundland and Labrador – led by the Nunatsiavut Government
- Community Clean Energy Planning, Training, and Implementation,NunatuKavut Community Council Inc., St. Lewis and Black Tickle, NunatuKavut, Newfoundland and Labrador – led by Energy Champion Siobhan Slade
- Community of Kuujjuaq Diesel Reduction,Société Kuujjuamiut Inc., Kuujjuaq, Nunavik, Quebec – led by Energy Champion Jason Aitchison
- Kinosaoo Microgrid and Retrofit Projects, Jobb Developments, Kinosaoo, Saskatchewan – led by Energy Champion Tyler Jobb
The Impact Canada Indigenous Off-diesel Initiative is aimed at generating new opportunities through training and capacity building, community energy planning and the implementation of clean energy and energy efficiency projects.
Delivered in collaboration with the Indigenous Clean Energy Social Enterprise and the Pembina Institute, the IODI supports the development of clean energy projects and bolsters Indigenous leadership in climate solutions. Additional project funding of up to $9 million is available through Natural Resources Canada’s Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities (CERRC) program.
This initiative builds on over $700 million already committed to suppot rural and remote communities’ transition from diesel to clean energy options.
Since 2017, Natural Resources Canada has invested $75 million in six clean technology challenges under the Impact Canada Initiative: Indigenous Off-diesel Initiative, Power Forward, The Sky’s the Limit, Charging the Future, Women in Cleantech and Crush It!.
Image credit: Indigenous Clean Energy: After two years the fifth cohort of Indigenous Clean Energy’s (ICE) flagship program, the 20/20 Catalysts Program gathered in Kelowna, BC. For more info click here.
