How much funding can be received?

The grant offers up to $200,000, covering up to 50% of eligible costs, and aims to accelerate community energy systems (CES) through studies identifying low-carbon energy opportunities and implementation mechanisms. Eligible activities include geospatial analysis, modeling energy demand, stakeholder engagement strategy development, and drafting municipal land-use policies that enable CES.

grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions

This grant provides funding to support local community energy system initiatives with a primary focus on co-financing. The modalities are structured to accommodate various project scales and community sizes.

Grant covers up to 50% of eligible project costs, with a maximum award of $200,000.
Projects in municipalities or regional governments with populations under 10,000 may qualify for a grant covering up to 80% of eligible costs.
Northern and eligible Indigenous communities applying for the first time can receive up to 100% coverage of eligible costs.

grant_single_labels|projects

This grant supports projects that focus on assessing and developing community energy systems to promote low-carbon energy solutions. Eligible activities aim to identify opportunities and mechanisms for implementing sustainable energy systems within municipalities.

Identifying, evaluating, and prioritizing opportunities for low-carbon community energy systems, including renewable and district energy systems.
Conducting a geospatial analysis to determine optimal neighbourhoods for successful community energy system implementation.
Modeling baseline energy demand for priority areas and projecting energy consumption and seasonal load profiles.
Articulating concrete next steps for developing new community energy systems and increasing connections to existing systems.
Developing a stakeholder engagement strategy to build support for community energy systems.
Identifying and prioritizing mechanisms for accelerating community energy development, such as property tax rebates or fast-tracked approval processes.
Advancing implementation mechanisms by clarifying legal, technical, and regulatory requirements.
Developing municipal land-use policies to support community energy system zones.
Conducting market research to gauge stakeholder awareness and support for district energy systems.
Carrying out an equity assessment to analyze the impact on equity-deserving groups, addressing barriers and enhancing positive impacts.

grant_single_labels|admissibility

Eligibility for this grant requires compliance with specific criteria related to the applicant’s organizational structure and partnerships.

The applicant must be a Canadian municipal government such as towns, cities, regions, districts, and local boards.
Municipally owned corporations, for example, a municipal utility, are eligible.
An Indigenous community can be a lead applicant if they partner with a Canadian municipal government on an eligible project or hold a shared service agreement related to municipal infrastructure, climate change, or adaptation.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply

Canadian municipal governments, municipally-owned corporations, and Indigenous communities collaborating with municipal governments are eligible to apply for these grants.

grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses

This grant supports projects that aim to identify and develop opportunities for low-carbon community energy systems. Eligible activities include comprehensive studies and strategic planning to create frameworks for implementing sustainable energy solutions within communities.

Identification, evaluation, and prioritization of opportunity areas for community energy systems using geospatial analyses.
Modeling anticipated baseline energy demand and seasonal load profiles for prioritized areas.
Articulating next steps and completing feasibility studies for community energy systems.
Developing robust stakeholder engagement strategies to foster partnerships and support.
Assessing and prioritizing implementation mechanisms to accelerate community energy development.
Advancing implementation mechanisms through legal, financial, and technical evaluations.
Development of municipal land-use policies supportive of community energy systems.
Conducting market research to gauge support for district energy systems from stakeholders.
Conducting equity assessments to ensure fair distribution of project benefits and burdens.

grant_eligibility_criteria|zone

This grant is open to Canadian municipal governments and municipally owned corporations across Canada. Eligible Indigenous and northern communities can also apply, especially those partnering with municipalities.

Canadian municipal governments, including towns, cities, regions, districts, and local boards.
Municipally owned corporations within Canada, such as municipal utilities.
Indigenous communities partnering with Canadian municipal governments.
Northern communities as defined by the three territories and northern regions of seven provinces in Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador, Québec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia).

grant_single_labels|criteria

The evaluation and selection of projects for this grant are based on specific criteria to ensure alignment with the grant’s objectives.

Potential to lead to significant greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions.
Strong support from political leaders, senior municipal staff, the local community, and implementation partners such as utilities, developers, or landowners.
Support from official plans, secondary plans, community energy plans, or climate action plans.
Leadership by a multidisciplinary team representing key departments.
Collaboration with key implementation partners and equity-deserving groups or Indigenous communities.
Strong integration of multi-solving approaches, such as maximizing environmental and socio-economic benefits.
Advancement of equity, diversity, inclusion, and Reconciliation objectives.
Increased climate resilience.

grant_single_labels|register

Here are the steps to submit an application for this grant:

Step 1: Access the Application Guide
- Download and review the application guide to understand requirements and process details.
Step 2: Initial Contact with GMF
- Reach out to a GMF representative to discuss your project by contacting them at gmfinfo@fcm.ca or calling 1-877-417-0550.
Step 3: Prepare Required Documents
- Review the list of prerequisites and supporting documents in appendix D of the application guide.
- Ensure you have a detailed project budget and are securing other funding sources for your project.
Step 4: Create FCM Funding Portal Profile
- Visit the FCM funding portal to create your profile, and request a PIN to access the system.
- If you already have a profile, skip to the next step.
Step 5: Pre-application Submission
- Complete the pre-application form available on the FCM funding portal.
Step 6: Eligibility Determination
- A GMF outreach officer will review your pre-application to determine eligibility.
- You will receive a response within 21 business days about your eligibility to proceed.
Step 7: Full Application Submission
- If eligible, access and complete the full application form through the FCM funding portal.
- Submit the completed application form, Excel project workbook, and required supporting documents.
Step 8: Application Review by GMF Project Officer
- A GMF project officer will be assigned to review your application for completeness and accuracy.
- Work with the officer to resolve any remaining questions.
Step 9: Peer Review and Internal Review
- An external peer review panel and internal analysis will evaluate your application.
- Recommendations will be made to GMF’s managing director and FCM’s Board of Directors.
Step 10: FCM Funding Decision
- Funding decisions for plans, pilots, and studies are determined by GMF’s managing director within three to five months.
- For capital projects, FCM’s Board of Directors makes the decision within four to six months.
Step 11: Specific Process for Quebec Municipalities
- Completed applications must be submitted to Quebec's MAMH before FCM processing.
- Submit applications via the Portail gouvernemental des affaires municipales et régionales after MAMH assessment.

grant_single_labels|contact

gmfinfo@fcm.ca

1-877-417-0550

Apply to this program

Accelerate Your Community's Energy Future

This grant provides Canadian municipalities with financial support to develop low-carbon community energy systems, with a focus on sustainability and innovation. By participating, eligible entities can receive up to $200,000 to fund projects that enhance local energy solutions.

Exploring the Grant: Diving Into Community Energy Systems Support

The "Accelerating Community Energy Systems" grant is an initiative designed to empower Canadian municipalities and partnering Indigenous communities by providing financial and developmental assistance for the establishment of innovative, low-carbon community energy systems. These systems are seen as pivotal to advancing Canada's sustainable development goals, significantly contributing to greenhouse gas reductions and fostering community resilience.

The grant offers up to $200,000, covering as much as 50% of eligible project costs, with increased support of up to 80% provided to smaller municipalities, Indigenous communities, and northern regions, characterized by populations of 10,000 or fewer. This generous funding helps mitigate the financial barriers typically associated with large-scale energy projects, encouraging more widespread adoption of renewable and district energy systems across varied Canadian landscapes.

Participating communities benefit not only from the financial support but also from comprehensive capacity development programs. These programs enhance local competencies by providing peer-learning opportunities, expert guidance, and skills development. As a result, communities are better equipped to navigate the complexities of financial and ownership model decision-making, assess technical conditions for successful project deployment, and integrate community energy systems (CES) into broader municipal planning processes.

The strategic focus of the grant is to encourage the initial assessment and prioritization of potential CES projects through robust studies. These preliminary studies serve as the groundwork for future development, enabling municipalities to evaluate opportunities, model anticipated energy demands, and develop actionable steps toward system implementation. By integrating geospatial analysis, the projects can effectively pinpoint optimal locations for CES deployment, considering factors like neighborhood development density, existing infrastructure, and potential partnerships with local industries or utilities.

A key component of the application process is demonstrating strong communal and political support, evident through collaboration with leading community, municipal, and industry stakeholders. Successful applications often emerge from multidisciplinary teams equipped with expertise spanning sustainability, finance, planning, and operations, ensuring that the projects are holistically evaluated and thoroughly planned.

Furthermore, applicants must show a commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion within their project plans. The grant emphasizes extending benefits to equity-deserving groups, ensuring that the socio-economic advantages of these energy initiatives are distributed fairly across communities. This equitable approach not only maximizes the direct impact of the energy systems but also supports societal objectives related to increased housing diversity, improved public spaces, and inclusive employment opportunities.

The application process, while competitive, is structured to assist applicants through multiple phases—from the pre-application submission and eligibility determination to full application submission and detailed review processes, overseen by the Green Municipal Fund's (GMF) expert officers and peer review panels. With a timeline stretching from a few months for smaller studies to several months for larger capital projects, the structured process ensures that only the most viable, impactful projects receive funding, thus optimizing the distribution of public resources.

This grant stands as a cornerstone for fostering sustainable, innovative municipal energy solutions in Canada. By availing of this opportunity, municipal entities not only enhance their environmental footprints but also contribute significantly to the broader national objective of transitioning to a net-zero future. Such initiatives not only promise immediate benefits in GHG reduction but also pave the way for long-term environmental, economic, and social development.