For decades, remote communities across Canada – the majority of which are home to Indigenous Peoples — have been locked into a system of diesel dependency. With the combination of good policy and committed partnership, we can address this challenge in support of community ambitions for more reliable and resilient energy systems.
Renewables in Remote Communities
Supporting communities in their transition to sustainable, healthy, and affordable energy solutions.

Remote energy costs remain high, even with subsidies
On average, remote communities pay six to ten times more for electricity and heat than other consumers. Without subsidies, energy costs in these communities would be 10–30 times more expensive. (See Diesel Subsidies — Simplified, Part I (2021))
Key Numbers
Decarbonizing Remote Indigenous Communities
For those governments and businesses who seek to transition away from diesel and toward cleaner, locally produced energy, there are a number of barriers to overcome. Key among them are regulatory and legislative roadblocks that make Indigenous leadership in the energy transition especially challenging.
As part of the Pembina Institute’s Rethinking Regulation to Decarbonize Canada series, we examine the regulatory and legislative challenges that remote Indigenous communities face as they seek to reduce diesel use and decarbonize remote microgrids. In particular, we focus on the regulatory systems of four jurisdictions in Canada: British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon.
Research & Analysis

Decarbonizing Remote Indigenous Communities
Regulatory reform in B.C. and the territories



Government of Northwest Territories widens path for community-led clean energy
The Pembina Institute reacts to recent government direction to the territorial utilities board

Lessons from Whitehorse: A spotlight on the remote transition to clean energy
Reflections from the fourth Renewables in Remote Communities Conference


The clean energy transition in remote communities
Five questions with the Renewables in Remote Communities program
Why increase renewable energy in remote communities?
Renewable energy provides a pathway to energy security.
Across Canada, remote communities rely on diesel fuel to heat and power their homes. This reliance creates local health, environmental, and economic inequities for these communities.
The transition to renewable and clean energy disrupts this reliant relationship and provides a pathway for healthier communities, strengthens local decision-making, and advances federal, provincial, and territorial commitments toward climate action and reconciliation.

We support communities with their clean energy transition
The transition to clean energy will bring a wide range of benefits to remote communities. However, the work to get there is not easy.
We support remote and Indigenous energy leaders and communities as they embark on a clean energy transformation, by:
- Developing tools and resources;
- Holding workshops and webinars;
- Helping build technical and policy capacity in communities

Our policy analysis, research and resources highlight opportunity
For over two decades, our Remote Communities Program has carried out extensive research on diesel reduction, clean energy financing, Indigenous rights, and more. Through this work, we highlight how the clean energy transition is full of opportunities for community and business development, and more reliable energy.


Secure fair prices for Indigenous-led renewable energy projects
Indigenous-led renewable energy projects bring environmental, economic, and social benefits to communities. Despite this, project funding and revenue streams do not fully reflect the associated value of renewable energy projects. Our research seeks to address these funding and policy gaps and advocates for fair and equitable energy prices.

Our Remote Communities Experts
Contact our Renewables in Remote Communities team

Program Director
Lynne Couves
c: 403-483-3850
e: lynnec@pembina.org
Media Contact
Bhan Gatkuoth (Mountain Time)
c: 587-742-0818
e: bhang@pembina.org
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Support clean energy for all.
Help remote communities across Canada realize their net-zero vision.