Dylan Heerema

A growing number of remote, Indigenous communities are leading the development of renewable energy projects as they transition away from diesel dependency. Between 2015 and 2020, the number of renewable energy projects in remote communities across Canada nearly doubled (see Diesel Reduction Progress Report). Yet, despite this growth in renewables, as much as 79 per cent of the electricity used in remote communities is still generated using diesel fuel.

Blog - Sept. 23, 2021 - By Pembina Institute Two things become clear when talking with the extraordinary women in Canada who are guiding the transition to clean energy – their sense of urgency and their unwillingness to leave anyone behind. The urgency is founded on their deep understanding of the looming global climate catastrophe, with the world at a tipping point that experts say we may not recover from.

By Dylan Heerema There are approximately 170 remote Indigenous communities in Canada, found in nearly every province and territory (except Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia), with a combined population of over 100,000 people. Remote communities are overwhelmingly reliant on diesel fuel for heating and electricity generation—70 per cent are powered by diesel generators, a polluting fuel that has to be transported into the community at a high cost.