Athlii Gwaii Legacy Renewables Grant supports Swiilawiid’s ‘The People’s Clean Energy Declaration for Haida Gwaii’ transformation of our Island’s electrical systems to clean and renewable energy. We are partnering with Haida Gwaii Governments and Advisory Boards through a highly collaborative application process, reflecting the belief that sustainable change is achieved through partnership and empowerment, not prescriptive solutions.
- Support the transitioning of Haida Gwaii’s diesel-dependent electrical grids to renewable energy sources
- Support the productive and sustainable use of Haida Gwaii’s natural resources (land, air, and water) in perpetuity
- Creating new Community Energy Plan (CEP) or updating an existing CEP
- Micro-hydro
- Wind
- Tidal
- Solar photo-voltaic (not solar thermal)
- Co-generation biomass projects, i.e. combined heat and power subsystems (batteries, inverters, micro-grid controls) that enable greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions through a renewable electricity generation project
- Transmission systems that enable GHG reductions through a renewable electricity generation project; or
- Some combination of the above, provided the combination of technologies has been proven elsewhere
Ineligible Projects
- Heating systems other than co-generation
- Geothermal
- Non-commercial technologies
Eligible Costs
Eligible costs are all direct costs properly and reasonably incurred and paid specifically to the project. Eligible costs include:
- Professional and technical services (i.e. engineering)
- Contract labour and equipment for project construction, including site preparation
- Training costs directly related to the construction and/or the operations and maintenance of the project
- Overhead costs (i.e. administrative costs, consulting costs, office supplies, printing) below 10% of the total project costs
- The incremental costs of employees who are directly involved in the construction of the project
- Travel (transportation, accommodation, meals and allowances) following CRA guidelines
- Technology procurement; and
- Associated materials
Ineligible Costs
The following are deemed ineligible costs:
- Preliminary planning and design work
- Costs related to developing a funding application and application-supporting documentation
- Costs incurred for cancelled projects
- Land acquisition
- Real estate and other fees related to purchasing land and buildings
- Financing charges, legal fees, and interest payments on loans, including those related to easements (i.e. associated surveys)
- Salaries and other employment benefits for costs associated with operating expenses and regularly scheduled maintenance work, and any costs related to the activities normally carried out by existing staff, except those indicated in Eligible Costs
- Costs associated with operating expenses and regularly scheduled maintenance work
- Leasing land, buildings and other facilities
- Leasing of equipment other than equipment directly related to the construction of the project
- Costs related to the furnishing and non-fixed assets which are not essential for the operation of the asset/project
- Any goods and services costs which are received through donations or in-kind; and
- Taxes for which the ultimate recipient is eligible for a tax rebate and all other costs eligible for rebates
Funding will not be approved for any of the following activities:
- Any activity inconsistent with any ecosystem-based management (EBM) land and resource management objectives;
- Costs associated with meeting statutory obligations of the provincial or federal governments or other entities. This restriction is not intended to preclude the funding negotiations or discussions between the Council of Haida Nation and the provincial or federal governments regarding the implementation of a clean energy project
- Political activities as defined by the Income Tax Act; and
- Any activity or expenditure for initiatives not consistent with Haida laws, provincial laws, permits, regulations, established policies, orders, and/or approvals
- Any activity inconsistent with Gwaii Trust Society bylaws, constitution and/or policies
- Any activity that is not Sustainable, as defined herein and determined at the sole discretion of the Fund; and
- No funding will be provided for expenditures incurred before the date the funding agreement is signed
Stream 1: Community Energy Planning
| Activities | Funding Cap | % of Total Project |
| New Community Energy Planning Activities relating to the creation of a new community energy document that includes community engagement | $75,000 | Up to 100% |
| Update to Existing CEP Activities relating to updating individual sections of an existing community energy plan, or adding additional sections | $40,000 | Up to 100% |
Stream 2: Small Projects
| Activities | Funding Cap | % Of Total Project |
| Clean Energy (Self-Generation) Installation of small-scale energy projects or small-scale community-owned energy generation to power to Haida Gwaii in whole or in part. These are non-utility scale projects that do not require an energy purchase agreement (EPA). This would include projects to provide power for residential or community buildings that are 100kW or less. | $300,000 | Up to 100% |
| Demand Side Management Conservation and efficiency activities designed to manage demand for energy. Examples of such activities include: energy performance modeling to establish a path for compliance with environmental building codes or standards, studies related to the design of energy efficient building systems or models, home and building assessments, etc. Energy efficiency activities including residential and community building retrofits, renovations, and implementation of other measures arising from assessments. Eligible activities include but are not limited to: envelope measures, heat pumps and retrofit enabling activities. | $300,000 | Up to 100% |
Stream 3: Major Projects
| Activities | Funding Cap | % of Total Project |
| Major Projects Projects that have an existing electricity purchase agreement (EPA), or impact benefit agreement (IBA), that are expected to generate significant revenue and jobs for Haida Gwaii. Both capital and non-capital costs that will assist the execution of the agreement are considered eligible. Eligible construction activities include final project engineering, contract labour, equipment for project construction, technology procurement, and associated materials. | $500,000 | Up to 100% |
All applications to the Athlii Gwaii Legacy grant programs will undergo a thorough review process, which could include a feasibility assessment, to ensure that the proposed projects are practical, sustainable, and deliver meaningful benefits to the people of Haida Gwaii. This review process helps us ensure that funding decisions are fair, accountable, and aligned with the long-term well-being of our communities.
- Read the Athlii Gwaii Legacy Renewables Grant Guide (coming soon).
- All applicants must submit the Stage 1 application to the AGL Project Specialist before proceeding to Stage 2.
- Applications must be for capital projects that use emerging and proven commercialized technologies to displace some or all of the diesel used by the islands to generate electricity via the North grid, South grid or both. Certain activities may not be eligible for funding.
- Stage 2 applications must include all feasibility studies, design and implementation details and a business plan to demonstrate that the project is ready for tender. Projects must have received all or most permits or approvals.
- Stage 2 applications must detail other capital funding contributions. Capital funding may include own-source revenue, in-kind contributions, debt financing, or grants and contributions from other agencies.
Evelyn Lavrisa
Athlii Gwaii Legacy Project SpecialistOffice: G̲aw Tlagée Old Massett
Ph: 250-626-7167