Pembina supports First Nations in their pursuit of lower energy costs, protection of the environment and economic development through clean energy projects.

We achieve this by working directly with communities to better understand their energy situation, identify sustainable energy opportunities and build the capacity needed to undertake successful projects. We also work with governments to develop policies that will foster sustainable development for First Nations.

Over the past decade, Pembina has worked with more than 50 First Nation communities seeking ways to reduce their costs and emissions, and to increase local control and sustainability of their energy resources.

Community Energy Planning

Pembina works with communities to complete energy baseline studies that assess local energy needs, identify energy efficiency measures to improve cost-savings and help communities consider options for renewable energy projects. These projects may be large-scale initiatives ranging from biodiesel production to large-scale wind farms, or community-scale projects such as the solar air heating system that the Beaver Lake Cree Nation recently installed in its new recreational complex.

Pembina also works to address the barriers to implementing renewable energy projects by working on innovative solutions with a variety of stakeholders. In 2005, Pembina held an energy workshop in British Columbia with First Nations and associated organizations. The workshop identified a number of barriers to past energy projects and initiated a group discussion about ways to overcome these barriers.

Technical Training and Support

Pembina provides technical training and support to First Nations interested in developing renewable energy resources on their land. This includes programs such as the wind energy technical training course that Pembina developed and delivered for First Nations in Saskatchewan in 2005, and activities such as local resource monitoring ongoing in Kyuquot, British Columbia.

First Nations Contact