Accelerating Implementation of Renewable Energy

The AI-RE protocol is now live!

The Accelerating the Implementation of Renewable Energy (AI-RE) protocol is a free online resource for Canadian municipalities. It consists of 5 action items and associated resources on:

The roles municipalities can play in renewable energy development
How to find and map solar, wind, and biomass energy generation opportunities
How to collaborate with stakeholders and community members to create fair and tailored initiatives
How to integrate sustainable development into future community plans
How intermediary organizations may invigorate the process

Find the protocol here

Accelerating Implementation of Renewable Energy is a two year project designed to help municipalities reach emission reduction targets by enabling investment of local renewable energy projects and infrastructure. The project will give municipalities the information and the tools they need to better assess and communicate renewable energy opportunities and adapt to changes in technology and policy.

Participants will benefit from hands-on learning techniques, real-world case studies on land use and other policy and technical tools, and a customized mapping toolkit to assess and communicate opportunities for projects in their communities.

ACCELERATING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY WEBINAR SERIES

From September to December 2020, QUEST organized a 4-part webinar series in partnership with the Community Energy Knowledge Action Partnership (CEKAP) and the University of Guelph. Click here to watch the recordings of the Accelerating Implementation of Renewable Energy webinar series.

Participating Municipalities

The following municipalities have been selected to participate in the Accelerating Implementation of Renewable Energy Project.

Canmore is a postcard perfect community enveloped by the rugged Canadian Rockies. Canmore is also surrounded by provincially and nationally significant protected areas and the Bow River flows through the heart of town. For these reasons, and many more, Canmore acknowledges our significant responsibility to be effective stewards of the land and resources that surround our community. Canmore is also growing and we are keenly aware of the fine balance between growth and environmental sustainability – our community seeks to support these opportunities while striving to minimize environmental impact. Investigating ways to accelerate the implementation of renewable energy is an opportunity for us to imagine a more sustainable future while still supporting the energy needs of our community.

The City of Moncton is located in southeastern New Brunswick and has a population of approximately 71,800. It is a vibrant and culturally rich community with a mission to deliver quality services to its citizens and foster and environment for the community to prosper. As identified it the City’s Strategic Plan, the environment and health of the community is a key priority for the City.

The City of Saint John is Canada’s first incorporate city (1785). It is centrally located on the southern New Brunswick coast of the Bay of Fundy at the confluence of the St. John River system, and is the largest municipality in the province at 316.3 square kilometers. The City has an increasingly diverse economy comprised of advanced manufacturing, information and communications technology, tourism and regional financial and service-based businesses. Saint John is also Eastern Canada’s energy gateway to New England, the US Eastern Seaboard and Atlantic Basin, and home to the country’s largest oil refinery, Canada’s only LNG terminal, two international natural gas pipelines, two large thermal power generation facilities and a nuclear power plant. The Saint John CMA population based on the 2016 census is just over 126,000, with a City of Saint John population of 67,575. The City’s unique geography, size and natural environment, combined with its age and diverse residential, commercial and industrial footprint, creates some truly unique climate and asset management challenges.

Waterloo Region is a mid-sized community located in the heart of southwestern Ontario. The Region has all the amenities of a large urban centre while still maintaining the charm and character of a smaller rural community. With a population of more than 530,000 people, Waterloo Region is one of the fastest growing areas in Ontario. The Region is a community of communities, connected by the Grand River, a diverse population, growing post-secondary institutions, and a thriving economy.

With a population of 1.2 million residents, the Regional Municipality of York is the third largest municipality on the Greater Toronto Area with a total land area of 1776 km2. Comprised of nine local municipalities, York Region’s diverse communities offer a range of lifestyle choices for residents from rural to vibrant urban centres supported by rapid transit. 69 % of York Region’s land base is within the Oak Ridges Moraine and the Greenbelt Plan Areas protecting rich agricultural areas and natural habitat corridors. To maintain a high quality of life for York Region residents, York Region has committed to managing growth in a sustainable way by mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change.

Project Partners

The Accelerating Implementation of Renewable Energy project is being led in partnership by QUEST and CEKAP.

Project Supporters

This initiative is offered through the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program, which is delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada. This initiative contributes to the FCM-ICLEI Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program to help municipalities reduce greenhouse gas emissions and take action on climate change. PCP is a partnership between FCM and ICLEI—Local Governments for Sustainability.

Other Projects

QUEST conducts and packages cutting edge applied research to empower practitioners and decision makers with the tools they need to advance Smart Energy Communities. Find out more about our projects:

Accelerating Implementation of Renewable Energy

The AI-RE protocol is now live!

Participating Municipalities

Project Partners

Project Supporters

Other Projects

Innovation Sandboxes

Economic Impact of New Brunswick Community Energy Plans

Smart Energy Communities Benchmark

Municipalities & Utilities Partnering for Community Resilience