Hydroelectric Powerhouse in Atlin, BC
Community Energy Diesel Reduction
The CEDR Program provides non-repayable funding contributions for clean energy initiatives to eligible remote communities that are off-grid residential regions that rely on diesel fuel for electricity generation. British Columbia has approximately forty-four (44) remote communities, most of which are governed by First Nations. Many of these remote communities are served by BC Hydro, while some own and operate their own diesel generators. In 2019, the remote communities consumed at least 19.1 million litres of diesel, emitting 51,784 tonnes CO2e.
Remote communities will have access to three funding streams to support them as they progress through various stages of their planning and implementation of their decarbonization projects. This will ensure remote communities have financial supports throughout the lifecycle of their energy projects that meets them at the stage where they are at, whether it be at the beginning, early, mid, or late stages of planning or implementation of their decarbonization projects.
The CEDR Program was developed in partnership with Coast Funds and the B.C. Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation as part of the Ministry’s Remote Community Energy Strategy to achieve the CleanBC goal of reducing diesel electricity generation and heating in remote communities by 80% by 2030.
To learn more about CleanBC’s Remote Community Energy Strategy, please visit their website.
Initiative Goals
The goal of the CEDR Program is to:
- Build remote community capacity to reduce reliance on diesel fuel for electricity generation and lead energy efficiency and clean energy projects;
- Support remote community efforts to improve energy performance and minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in new and existing buildings;
- Implement renewable energy generation projects to offset diesel generation.
Before You Apply
Prior to starting the enrolment/application process, please ensure that the First Nation or organization as applicant is associated with an eligible remote community. If you have any questions regarding your organization’s eligibility, please connect with us at [email protected]
Funding Streams
There are three broad streams of funding support that an eligible remote community can access throughout the lifecycle of their clean energy initiatives:
The foundation of the CEDR Program is the support to remote communities in the development, maintenance, and management of a Community Energy Plan (CEP).
The CEDR Program has been designed to support remote communities on their CEP’s for the duration of the Program. This means remote communities that do not have a CEP will have a CEP developed as a first step in the Program. Remote communities that have older CEPs can have their CEPs updated through the Program; likewise, remote communities that have CEPs that do not meet the full criteria identified by the Program can update their CEPs to address these gaps. Remote communities that have completed a CEP that meets all Program criteria (whether these CEPs were developed through the Program or prior to Program launch) will receive energy management support, including regular updates to CEPs.
The CEDR Program has developed a template and comprehensive checklist for CEP that provides criteria for remote communities and their consultants to use in undertaking the development of a new CEP or to identify gaps in an existing CEP, or completing annual updates to a CEP.
The DSM funding stream will provide support to remote communities to undertake capital improvements and retrofits that upgrade premises such as residential and community buildings that results in improved energy efficiency and load management. The selection of DSM projects should be informed by the community needs and from recommendations from their CEP’s.
Under this funding stream, remote communities may manage their own DSM projects with advisory and funding support from CEDR Program. Alternatively, the CEDR Program can take a more active role with the remote community in identifying buildings that would benefit from DSM upgrades and appropriate measures to be installed.
This component of the CEDR Program consists of stage-gated support for renewable electricity generation, which provides funding at the applicable stage of project development. As projects progress, additional funding for subsequent project development stages will be available through the stage-gated review process based on established criteria.
By offering predictable funding and project support for at least three years, the project funding model sustains momentum as projects move towards acquiring capital and construction proceeds. Project funding in the CEDR Program will focus on project planning and development costs, with a contribution available for construction.
If additional funding through partnerships or other sources become available, the CEDR Program may increase the amounts of construction funding through the same process.
Eligible applicants are First Nations and remote communities that are off-grid communities that rely on diesel fuel for electricity generation and are listed in the eligible applicant table below.
The tables below identify the updated list of eligible remote communities in B.C. with diesel generating stations, along with First Nations supplied by each station.
List Of Eligible Applicants
| Community | Associated First Nation |
|---|---|
| Good Hope Lake | Dease River First Nation |
| Dease River | Dease River First Nation |
| Jade City | Dease River First Nation |
| Dease Lake | Talhtan Nation |
| Iskut | Talhtan Nation |
| Eddontenajon | Talhtan Nation |
| Telegraph Creek | Talhtan Nation |
| Atlin | Taku River Tlingit First Nation |
| Tsay Keh Dene | Tsay Keh Dene Nation |
| Takla Landing | Takla Lake First Nation |
| Kwadacha/Fort Ware | Kwadacha Nation |
| Toad River | N/A |
| Community | Associated First Nation |
|---|---|
| Kluskus Lakes | Lhoosk'uz Dene |
| Xeni Gwet'in/Nemiah Valley | Xeni Gwet'in First Nations Government |
| Anahim Lake | Ulkatcho First Nation |
| Nimpo Lake | N/A |
| McBride | N/A |
| Community | Associated First Nation |
|---|---|
| Massett | N/A |
| Old Massett | Haida Nation |
| Port Clements | N/A |
| Queen Charlotte/Daajing Giids | Haida Nation |
| Sandspit | N/A |
| Skidegate | N/A |
| Skidegate Landing | Haida Nation |
| Txalgiux/Hartley Bay | Gitga'at First Nation |
| Bella Coola | Nuxalk Nation |
| Hagensborg | N/A |
| Firvale | N/A |
| Klemtu | Kitasoo/Xai'xais Nation |
| Waglisla/Bella Bella | Heiltsuk Nation |
| Shearwater | Heiltsuk Nation |
| Community | Associated First Nation |
|---|---|
| Oweekeno/Rivers Inlet | Wuikinuxv Nation |
| Bull Harbour (Hope Island) | Tlatlasikwala First Nation |
| Ethlateese | Uchucklesaht Tribe |
| Gwa'yas'dums/Health Bay (Gifford Island) | Kwikwasut'unuxw Haxwa'mis First Nations |
| Heghums/Hopetown (Watson Island) | Gwawaenuk Tribe |
| Hot Springs Cove | Hesquiaht First Nation |
| Refuge Cove | Hesquiaht First Nation |
| Houpsitas/Walter's Cove | Ka:yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h; First Nation |
| Tsatisisnukwomi/New Vancouver (Harbledown) Kwatse/Knight Inlet | Da'naxda'xw First Nation |
| Ukwanalis/Kingcome Inlet | Dzawada'enuxw First Nation |
Program Enrolment Process
We appreciate your interest in applying for a CEDR grant from the New Relationship Trust. To better understand whether we can fund your community energy project and to what extent, please fill out the expression of interest form in the link below. After you submit the form, we’ll contact you to discuss the process and next steps.
Step 1: Expression Of Interest (EOI)
You can express interest in the CEDR Program in one of two ways.
You can send us an email at [email protected] that includes responses to the Expression of Interest form below: or,
Submit the Expression of Interest Form below
"*" indicates required fields
Step 2: Complete A Full Application
Once the EOI submission has been evaluated and the follow-up process has been completed, the CEDR Program staff will invite approved applicants to complete a full application. The CEDR Program staff will support, cultivate and complete applications as much as possible through the EOI process.
The CEDR Program funding guide can be viewed or downloaded below.
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST AND APPLICATION
APPROVAL DECISIONS
The CEDR Program will incorporate a criteria based process for selecting remote communities for the various streams of funding. The CEDR Program Staff will assess submitted applications and place them at the appropriate funding stream stage with access to additional funding based on project development progress.
A multi-stakeholder Advisory Committee will review staff recommended applications and make decisions about program enrolment and funding allocations to approved projects.
Successful applicants can anticipate a communication from the CEDR Program staff within six (6) weeks of the submitted application date.
Capacity Development Opportunities
The CEDR Program is intended to have an integrated approach to capacity development. We encourage applicants of the CEDR Program to explore capacity development funding from Coastal First Nations for salary, training, and learning support for staff to facilitate the planning and implementation of energy efficiency and renewable energy generation projects that lead to GHG emission reductions and other community energy objectives.
Contact Us
The CEDR Program staff encourage potential applications to reach out, if you have questions, require assistance, or wish to request support on submitting an EOI or Application. Please email [email protected]
