The ecoENERGY for Aboriginal and Northern Communities Program, which began on April 1, 2007, will provide $15 million in new funding over four years to support Aboriginal and northern communities working on clean energy projects.  The primary goal of this program is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (which contribute to climate change) and criteria air contaminants (which contribute to air pollution).

Major challenges for Aboriginal and northern communities include climate change impacts, the costs of energy and the costs of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Even with comprehensive renewable energy and energy efficient policies and measures, there remains a need to address the high level of emissions in Aboriginal and northern communities.  This is particularly true for communities in cold, northern climates and the approximately 150 Aboriginal and northern communities that rely on diesel generators for their electricity.

Aboriginal and northern communities are developing clean energy projects. These projects include the development of hydroelectricity, wind turbines, solar energy, biomass and geothermal technology. A number of Aboriginal and northern communities have also committed to energy planning for the future so that their communities can continue to grow in sustainable, efficient ways.

The ecoENERGY for Aboriginal and Northern Communities Program provides funding to Aboriginal and northern communities for:

1. community energy baselines;
2. integrating energy efficiency/renewable energy technologies into community infrastructure projects; and
3. large energy projects.

For more information about this program and to view the funding guidelines and templates, visit the “Program Overview” page on Indian and Northern Affairs Canada’s Web site.