How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $200000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the Accelerating community energy systems?

Accelerating community energy systems is funded by Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), Green Municipal Fund

What are Accelerating community energy systems's eligibility criterias?

Eligible applicants must be Canadian municipal governments or municipally owned corporations. Indigenous communities can apply if partnered with a Canadian municipal government or if they have a shared service agreement for related projects.

Accelerating community energy systems

grant_single|update January 24, 2025

Canada

Support for advancing low-carbon community energy systems

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Grant and Funding

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Public administration

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Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)
Green Municipal Fund

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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).

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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.