Accelerating Implementation of Renewable Energy for Indigenous Communities
QUEST Canada Launches its Accelerating the Implementation of Renewable Energy in Indigenous Communities Project
QUEST Canada is pleased to announce the launch of its project, Accelerating the Implementation of Renewable Energy in Indigenous Communities, an innovative initiative that enables remote Indigenous communities to build local capacity to accelerate renewable energy projects, building a pathway to net-zero. Read the News ReleaseAbout the Project
Accelerating Implementation of Renewable Energy (AIRE) for Indigenous Communities is a three-year project designed to help rural and remote Indigenous communities reach emission reduction targets by increasing their capacity to plan and implement land-based renewable energy initiatives (solar, wind, biomass, and geo-thermal). This project supports rural, remote Indigenous communities on their pathway to net-zero.
The project provides participating Indigenous communities with the information and tools necessary to better assess, identify, and access renewable energy opportunities.
QUEST Canada will develop a publicly available toolkit that rural and remote Indigenous communities and partnering stakeholders can reference to establish and deploy a deeper collaborative planning processes for local renewable energy development. The toolkit will be developed and made available at the end of the project.
Timeline
The project consists of six stages, each designed to support communities on their pathway to net-zero.

“The collaborative work between QUEST Canada, the University of Saskatchewan, and the Peter Ballantyne Group of Companies is key to advancing energy security in the North, but also creating a sustainable future for generations to come. By working together, we are discovering the untapped potential of renewable energy and finding ways to align energy development with community values. This partnership not only benefits the environment but also provides valuable training opportunities for the next generation of leaders, ensuring that they are equipped with the necessary skills to build a better world.”
Participating Communities
Frog Lake First Nation (FLFN) in rural Alberta and two remote Indigenous communities governed by Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation (PBCN)—an Asinīskāwitiniwak First Nation band government in Northern Saskatchewan (consisting of eight communities)—will participate in the project.
Partners & Supporters
Partners
Supporters
For more information about this project, please contact Omar Farag, Senior Lead of Projects, at [email protected] or 866-494-2770 ext. 717.
Empowering Canadian Communities
QUEST Canada develops and implements programs and projects with the aim to nurture strategic partnerships, facilitate connections, empower community champions, and influence decisions makers, supporting communities across Canada on their pathway to net-zero. Find out more about our programs and projects:
Enabling Low-Carbon Energy Projects for Investments
Communities in Canada are increasingly developing local, low-carbon energy projects, but many face road-blocks with regards to financing. Simultaneously, Canadian investors are seeking low-carbon investments, but are challenged to find local opportunities at scale for investment. The Enabling Low Carbon Energy Projects for Investment (ELCEPI) research project aims to offer recommendations and solutions to close these financing gaps, while connecting the barriers and enablers for investment to larger socio-economic issues.
New Brunswick Smart Energy Communities Accelerator Pilot Program
The NB SECA Pilot Program successfully established a community energy planning accelerator to assist a series of New Brunswick communities and one First Nation, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to develop and implement community energy plans and understand the net economic benefit they can provide.
Equitable Engagement
The Equitable Engagement project works to incorporate Indigenous knowledge as well as equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) considerations into QUEST Canada’s capacity building-based initiatives. The aim of this project is to ensure current and future participating communities are equipped with the tools, resources, and knowledge required to engage all stakeholders on the pathway to a durable and just net-zero future.