BC Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative (BCICEI)

The British Columbia Indigenous Clean Energy Initiative (BCICEI) provides support and capacity-building funds to Indigenous communities working on the development of clean energy projects.

How to Apply

Tim Masso and Canoe Creek hydro team discussing clean energy success in Tla-o-qui-aht territory

Who Can Apply

B.C. First Nations
Tribal Councils
Indigenous for profit and not-for-profit corporations, partnerships, associations, co-operatives, institutions, and other legal entities which are majority owned and controlled by First Nation communities (for example, economic development corporations).

The proposed project must be located in B.C.

Overview

BCICEI funding will enable the implementation of cost-effective clean energy and energy efficiency projects through support for:

Community Energy Planning
Feasibility and site selection activities
Environmental review and permitting
Project design and engineering
Clean Energy (Self-Generation)
Demand side management
Pre-construction/ Pre-Commercial Operation Date

The initiative will also support remote, off-grid and end-of-line communities seeking to reduce dependency on conventional diesel power generation.

Project Funding Streams

Stream 1: Community Energy Planning

Activities	Funding Cap	% of Total Project
New CEP 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%
Turn-key CEP Communities will work with NRT staff and our preferred project partner to create an online CEP dashboard that summarizes key energy planning findings	NRT will bill preferred partners directly	Up to 100%

Stream 2: Project Planning

Activities

Feasibility / business plans, resource mapping, site selection, interconnection studies

Approvals and permitting for clean energy projects

Project design, engineering and infrastructure assessment

Funding Cap

$300,000

% of Total Project

Up to 100%

Stream 3: Small Scale Energy & Efficiency

Activities

Clean Energy (Self-Generation)

Installation of small-scale energy projects or small-scale community-owned energy generation to power the First Nation community 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.

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.

Funding Cap

$300,000

% of Total Project

Up to 100%

Stream 4: Pre-construction/PCOD

Activities

Pre-Construction/ PCOD

Projects that have an existing electricity purchase agreement (EPA), or impact benefit agreement (IBA), that are expected to generate significant revenue and jobs for its community. Both capital and non-capital costs that will assist the execution of the agreement are considered eligible.
Remote communities that are reliant on diesel for electricity generation are also eligible to apply for the construction of renewable electricity generation projects. Eligible construction activities include final project engineering, contract labour, equipment for project construction, technology procurement, and associated materials.

Funding Cap

$500,000

% of Total Project

Up to 100%

How to Apply

Application Process

Step 1: Read the CEP 2025 Application Guidelines or the 2025 BCICEI General Program Application Guidelines, which also contain our Frequently Asked Questions.

Step 2: Complete all fields of the respective BCICEI Application Form. Please note that there are two different BCICEI applications. One for Stream 1 CEP and one for the rest of the streams 2,3, and 4, BCICEI Applications

Step 3: Save the completed BCICEI Application with the following filename format: ApplicantName_BCICEI_ddmmyy.doc

Step 4: Prepare supporting documentation to submit with the BCICEI Application as a complete application package (see sections 4 and 5 of the BCICEI Application Guidelines)

Step 5: Email the completed BCICEI Application Form and all necessary supporting documentation to the New Relationship Trust in the email below. Please follow the format template as outlined. To ensure your submission will be considered, do not submit individually or in pieces.
bciceiapplications@nrtf.ca
Email Subject (example):
‘XYZ First Nation, email 1 of 4’
*EMAIL FOR 2025INTAKE*

If you require further assistance, please contact us.