Communiqué de presse
QUEST Canada Launches its Accelerating the Implementation of Renewable Energy in Indigenous Communities Project
QUEST Canada Launches its Accelerating the Implementation of Renewable Energy in Indigenous Communities Project
May 30, 2023–Today, QUEST Canada is excited to announce the launch of its Accelerating Implementation of Renewable Energy (AIRE) for Indigenous Communities project, in partnership with the University of Saskatchewan.
QUEST Canada’s AIRE for Indigenous Communities project is an innovative initiative that enables remote Indigenous communities to build local capacity to accelerate renewable energy projects, building a pathway to net-zero.
The project leverages proven tools and services developed during QUEST Canada’s Accelerate the Implementation of Renewable Energy (AIRE) project, which partnered with participating communities from Ontario, Alberta and New Brunswick. The processes and tools established during the original AIRE project are now being adapted to better serve Indigenous communities.
AIRE for Indigenous Communities is a three-year project designed to help rural and remote Indigenous communities reach emission reduction targets by increasing capacity to plan and implement land-based renewable energy initiatives (namely solar, wind, biomass, and geo-thermal). The project will work with participating Indigenous communities to ensure they have the information and tools necessary to better assess and communicate renewable energy opportunities as well as adapt to advancements and changes in energy-related technologies and policy. To accomplish these objectives, QUEST Canada will develop a publicly available toolkit that rural and remote Indigenous communities and their stakeholders can reference to establish and deploy deeper collaborative planning processes for local renewable energy development.
“Energy systems and social systems are interconnected. Ensuring energy security in remote and rural Indigenous communities is imperative to reconciliation, enhanced self-sufficiency, as well as improved overall health and well-being. QUEST Canada’s AIRE for Indigenous Communities project seeks to learn from and work with Indigenous communities to accelerate renewable energy projects to help Canada achieve its net-zero targets, equitably.”
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.
“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.”
QUEST Canada has partnered with the University of Saskatchewan, providing two Master’s students with the experiential learning opportunity to work under the guidance of subject-matter experts to deliver renewable energy geospatial mapping analysis to participating communities in Northern Saskatchewan.
“Our work in collaboration with QUEST [Canada] and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation is helping advance energy security in northern Indigenous communities. Together, we are exploring resource capacities for local renewable energy development and seeking opportunities for energy transitions that align with community social, economic, and cultural values. The collaboration is providing valuable training opportunities for graduate students at the University of Saskatchewan and helping train the next generation of energy leaders.”
“The Government of Canada is pleased to collaborate with Indigenous communities to unlock economic opportunities in the clean energy sector while supporting communities to move past diesel reliance and access more affordable energy. Through investments like the one we announced today with QUEST [Canada] in the AIRE for Indigenous Communities planning project, we are taking steps towards a net-zero future together.”
Federal funding for this project is provided through Natural Resources Canada’s Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities program, a $453-million program that strives to reduce reliance on diesel in rural and remote communities by deploying and demonstrating renewable energy projects, encouraging energy efficiency and building local skills and capacity.
To learn more about the AIRE for Indigenous Communities project and how it aims to support rural and remote Indigenous communities, visit the page web du projet and join QUEST Canada’s à la liste de diffusion d'information mensuelle pour recevoir les mises à jour des projets à venir.
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À propos de QUEST Canada
QUEST Canada est un organisme national à but non lucratif qui soutient les collectivités canadiennes dans leur cheminement vers la consommation nette zéro. Depuis 2007, nous facilitons les connexions, donnons du pouvoir aux champions communautaires et influençons les décideurs pour mettre en œuvre des systèmes énergétiques efficaces et intégrés qui répondent le mieux aux besoins des communautés et maximisent les opportunités locales. Nous développons des outils et des ressources, nous réunissons les parties prenantes et les détenteurs de droits et nous conseillons les décideurs - tout cela dans le but d'encourager et de permettre aux communautés de contribuer aux objectifs de consommation nette zéro du Canada. Pour en savoir plus sur QUEST Canada, visitez notre site Web : www.questcanada.org.
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Quotes
Tonja Leach, directrice générale de QUEST Canada
Lire la citation
“Energy systems and social systems are interconnected. Ensuring energy security in remote and rural Indigenous communities is imperative to reconciliation, enhanced self-sufficiency, as well as improved overall health and well-being. QUEST Canada’s AIRE for Indigenous Communities project seeks to learn from and work with Indigenous communities to accelerate renewable energy projects to help Canada achieve its net-zero targets, equitably.”
Jarrett Merasty at Peter Ballantyne Group of Companies
Lire la citation
“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.”
Bram Noble, Vice Dean, Research, Scholarly & Artistic Work, College of Arts & Science and Co-Director, Community Appropriate Sustainable Energy Security (CASES) Partnership at University of Saskatchewan
Lire la citation
“Our work in collaboration with QUEST [Canada] and Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation is helping advance energy security in northern Indigenous communities. Together, we are exploring resource capacities for local renewable energy development and seeking opportunities for energy transitions that align with community social, economic, and cultural values. The collaboration is providing valuable training opportunities for graduate students at the University of Saskatchewan and helping train the next generation of energy leaders.”
The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources Canada at Natural Resources Canada
Lire la citation
“The Government of Canada is pleased to collaborate with Indigenous communities to unlock economic opportunities in the clean energy sector while supporting communities to move past diesel reliance and access more affordable energy. Through investments like the one we announced today with QUEST [Canada] in the AIRE for Indigenous Communities planning project, we are taking steps towards a net-zero future together.”
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