The Accelerating Community Energy Systems program funds studies that identify, evaluate and prioritize opportunity areas for low-carbon community energy systems (including renewable energy and district heating and cooling systems) and assess mechanisms to support implementation.

These studies lay the groundwork for more focused community energy systems initiatives, such as developing business cases, conducting feasibility studies, or implementing capital projects.

Selected communities benefit from:

• Peer-learning support program
• Skills development training
• Connection with national leaders in community energy systems
• Support navigating financial and ownership models
• Technical conditions assessment training
• Guidance on embedding community energy systems into development and planning processes

Equity Assessment Questions:

• Which equity-deserving groups might benefit or be burdened by the project?
• What strategies can address barriers or mitigate negative impacts?
• What data sources can help illuminate equity issues in local context?

Project Preferences (for competitive selection):

• Potential for significant GHG reductions
• Strong political, staff and community support
• Support from official plan, secondary plan, community energy plan or climate action plan
• Led by multidisciplinary municipal team
• Collaboration with key implementation partners (utilities, developers, landowners)
• Collaboration with equity-deserving groups or Indigenous communities
• Integration of multi-solving approaches (housing diversity, transit-oriented development, climate resilience)

Required Commitment:

• Active participation in learning cohort is mandatory for funding consideration.