Funding Programs for Communities

The Province, along with other funding partners, provides funding support for capacity building, planning, energy efficiency, and renewable energy generation. Projects are led by communities and are tailored to individual community needs. 

Community Energy Diesel Reduction (CEDR) 

The Community Energy Diesel Reduction (CEDR) program is administered by New Relationship Trust and provides funding to eligible remote, off-grid communities that rely on diesel fuel for electricity generation for:

• Capacity building and planning
• Energy efficiency projects
• Renewable energy generation 

British Columbia Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative (BCICEI)

British Columbia Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative (BCICEI) is administered by New Relationship Trust and provides funding to First Nations, tribal councils, and organizations majority owned by First Nation communities for activities that enable clean energy and energy efficiency projects:

• Community energy planning
• Feasibility and site selection
• Environmental review and permitting
• Project design and engineering
• Clean energy (self-generation)
• Demand side management
• Pre-construction/pre-Commercial Operation Date activities

The program supports on-grid and remote, off-grid communities.

First Nations Electricity Program (FNEP)

In 2023, the Province provided a $140 million endowment to New Relationship Trust (NRT) to expand the BC Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative (BCICEI) and support more Indigenous-led clean energy projects. Interest earned from the endowment is currently funding existing BCICEI streams.  Since 2023, the Province, NRT, BC Hydro, PacifiCan, and First Nations partners have been working together to design a new funding stream for smaller First Nations-led clean energy projects that may not otherwise be competitive due to their smaller size. This work has included ongoing engagement with First Nations to help ensure the program reflects community priorities, opportunities, and challenges.  In 2024, a discussion paper was released to support further dialogue on program design and an Indigenous engagement summary is available. In 2025, NRT issued a Request for Information about potential small scale Indigenous-led clean energy projects that are able to connect to BC Hydro's integrated electricity grid. Information gathered was used to develop this new BCICEI stream while refining program parameters and project eligibility details.

The First Nations Electricity Program (FNEP), will support small-scale, grid-connected renewable energy projects and will gradually draw down the $140 million endowment over time.  For the latest information on FNEP, please visit NRT and BC Hydro.  

First Nations’ Clean Energy Business Fund (FNCEBF)

The  First Nation Clean Energy Business Fund (FNCEBF) is administered by the Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions and provides funding to First Nations and Indigenous governing bodies for:

• Capacity funding:
  • Community Energy Plans (CEPs)
  • Pre-feasibility and feasibility studies
  • Training for community members
• Equity funding:
  • Demand Side Management
  • Clean energy generation (small scale installations/non-utility scale)
  • Pre-construction/pre-Commercial Operation Date (COD) activities
  • Investment in existing Independent Power Projects (IPPs)
• Revenue sharing with First Nations whose territory may be impacted by a clean energy project.

The Indigenous Climate Action Network (I-CAN)  

The Indigenous Climate Action Network (I-CAN) program provides funding for remote Indigenous communities to hire full-time Climate Action Coordinators (CACs). The network offers CACs individual and peer networking supports. Skills CACs support the planning and implementation of energy efficiency, renewable energy generation, and climate change adaptation projects for their communities.

Energy Peers in Indigenous Communities (EPIC)  

The Energy Peers in Indigenous Communities (EPIC) network is a program to build capacity, knowledge, and skills related to renewable energy in Indigenous communities in B.C. The program supports a cohort of participants (called Community Energy Champions) with a peer-to-peer cohort and peer mentorship approach to building and sharing knowledge, networking and engagement, skills development, and training on renewable energy.