Business case: Community Energy Systems

• The applicant must be a Canadian municipal government (e.g., town, city, region, district or local board) or an eligible municipal partner (private sector entity, municipally-owned corporation, regional/provincial/territorial organization delivering municipal services, non-governmental or not-for-profit organization, or research institute such as a university).
• If the lead applicant is an Indigenous community, it must be partnering with a Canadian municipal government on an eligible project, or have a shared service agreement with a Canadian municipal government related to municipal infrastructure, climate change or adaptation.
• The project must produce a business case that technically explores low-carbon and renewable community energy systems viable for a given site and assesses the capacity to implement them.
• The business case must identify preferred community energy option(s) at a neighbourhood scale and assess viability, impacts/benefits, costs and revenue streams, partnerships, business model (ownership/operations/financing), and risks/mitigation.
• The business case must include, at minimum, GHG impact considerations, economic benefits to the municipality, stakeholder considerations, implementation considerations (e.g., right of way, zoning, access), a financial analysis (costs, revenues, ROI, funding options), and an equity assessment.

Who is eligible?

• Canadian municipal governments (e.g., towns, cities, regions, districts, and local boards)
• Private sector entities (as municipal partners)
• Municipally-owned corporations
• Regional, provincial or territorial organizations delivering municipal services
• Non-governmental organizations, not-for-profit organizations, and research institutes (e.g., universities)

Who is not eligible

• Private enterprises that submit an application as the primary applicant (the funding is intended for Canadian municipal governments; the private sector is mentioned only as a municipal partner).
• Indigenous communities that submit an application without a partnership with a Canadian municipal government in an eligible project, and without a shared services agreement with a Canadian municipal government (municipal infrastructure, climate change mitigation, or climate adaptation).

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada (projects led by Canadian municipal governments and eligible municipal partners).
• Indigenous communities in Canada (when partnering with a Canadian municipal government or with a shared service agreement related to municipal infrastructure, climate change or adaptation).
• Northern Canada (the three territories).
• Northern portions of Newfoundland and Labrador, Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia (as defined by Statistics Canada codes).

• Innovation and potential impact of the initiative (GMF aims to fund the most innovative and impactful projects).
• Greenhouse gas (GHG) impacts of the solution or approach being studied.
• Economic benefit to the municipality.
• Quality of the financial analysis (e.g., cost estimates, revenue projections, ROI, and funding options).
• Equity assessment (who benefits or is burdened; strategies to address barriers/mitigate negative impacts; use of data sources to illuminate equity issues).

• Applications are accepted year-round, but the offer may close once all available funding is allocated.
• A business case is intended to prepare your organization for a subsequent feasibility study.
• A business case and feasibility study may be combined as a single project (with a higher total maximum available for the combined project).
• Funding decisions for study projects are typically issued three to five months after the full application is submitted.