The provincial government is adding more money to an Indigenous Energy Support Program.
The program promotes energy planning and renewable project development by Indigenous communities.
The government is adding $5 million to the fund, bringing its contribution to $15 million available each year.
“By increasing funding for the Indigenous Energy Support Programs, we are helping more Indigenous communities build capacity to leverage opportunities as our energy grid expands, including building more clean electricity generation projects in their community to keep energy costs down,” says Todd Smith, Minister of Energy.
This year, ninety-three projects in 58 communities are benefiting.
Here is the list of northwestern Ontario projects.
Fort Severn First Nation
Providing hands-on training for local community members to operate and maintain a solar photovoltaic system. $125,000
Ginoogaming First Nation
Developing mentor-based energy training plans between community members, educators and industry stakeholders. $125,000
Kasabonika Lake First Nation
Building capacity by utilizing drone technology to monitor the community’s solar project and ensure the panels and inverter are operating sufficiently. In addition, drone equipment will support the community’s biomass operation to assess optimal locations within forested areas to harvest sustainably. $124,967
Kashechewan First Nation
Developing a training and skills-building strategy for their community energy team to operate and maintain their growing number of community energy assets. The focus is on monitoring, performance analysis, safety procedures, fault determination, preventative maintenance and troubleshooting. $125,000
Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation
Building capacity by utilizing drone technology to monitor the community’s solar project and ensure the panels and inverter are operating sufficiently. In addition, drone equipment will support the community’s biomass operation to assess optimal locations within forested areas to harvest sustainably. $124,967
Lac Seul First Nation
Developing an energy project management training and skills-building program to build, maintain and operate their growing number of renewable energy assets. $125,000
Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation
Developing an energy project management training and skills-building program for community members to build, maintain and operate their growing number of renewable energy assets.
$125,000
Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek (Rocky Bay First Nation)
Conducting a feasibility study on the impact of installing solar panels on the existing community centre and expanding existing panels in the local school. The community is also evaluating the feasibility of solar streetlights. $50,000
Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek First Nation
Completing retrofits on community buildings to be compatible with heat recovery ventilation systems which will be connected to the future district heating biomass system. $200,000
Couchiching First Nation
Assessing the feasibility of constructing a rooftop solar system on the local community arena to promote conservation and energy security. $50,000
Ginoogaming First Nation
Assessing the feasibility of renewable energy technologies to support the community’s needs. $50,000
Grassy Narrows First Nation
Assessing the feasibility of constructing rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems in selected locations within the community. $50,000
Independent First Nations Alliance
Conducting four feasibility studies to determine the most cost-effective way to enable energy savings for community buildings and the implementation of renewable energy assets. $200,000
Kashechewan First Nation
Implementing a microgrid to offset the reliance of the community arena on diesel fuel through scalable rooftop solar and battery storage systems. $200,000
Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation
Developing and implementing a cutting-edge micro-utility operating system to revolutionize the energy landscape of local communities. $200,000
Lac Seul First Nation
Piloting an innovative community-based energy-as-a-service business model and implementation of a solar photovoltaic system. $200,000
Mishkosiminiziibiing Ojibway Nation (Big Grassy River)
Designing and installing a 30 kW solar photovoltaic system, including assessment of net-metering capacity and battery storage. $150,000
Northwest Angle #33 First Nation
Designing and installing a 30 kW solar photovoltaic system, including assessment of net-metering capacity and battery storage. $150,000
Pays Plat First Nation
Assessing the feasibility of constructing rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems in selected locations within the community. $50,000
Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation
Conducting a feasibility study aimed at establishing a micro-utility in the community and providing energy-as-a-service to on-grid and off-grid buildings in the community. $50,000
Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation
Designing and installing a 30 kW solar photovoltaic system, including the assessment of net-metering capacity and battery storage. $150,000
