First Nation solar flourishes in British Columbia
Solar energy is flourishing among indigenous First Nations in British Columbia. This development is thanks in large part to a recent group of grants by the provincial government aimed at energy efficiency projects reducing diesel usage.
These grants are also helping develop broad energy plans for several First Nations, within which equity ownership and local training are key goals, says Rocky Dhillon, the national director of Indigenous partnerships and strategic development at Mag Solar, based in MIssion, B.C., in a recent interview with Solar Builder Canada.
The provincial B.C. government recently announced awards of approximately $6.6 million to 13 remote First Nations through the Community Energy Diesel Reduction (CEDR) program to support them in building clean energy projects in their communities. BC Hydro is also contributing to some of the project costs, as is the federal government in some cases.
The CEDR program, administered by the non-profit New Relationship Trust, is part of the province’s CleanBC Remote Community Energy Strategy. The program is primarily funded by the Province, with BC Hydro funding some energy-efficiency projects.
The largest award among the new grants is to the Tsay Keh Dene Nation, which is receiving $1.5 million for the design of a 3.5 MW solar project. The Tsay Keh Dene Nation is a Sekani First Nation located in the northern interior of B.C., approximately 600 km north of Prince George. Their community sits at the northern end of the Williston Lake reservoir, which is part of the Rocky Mountain Trench.
Four First Nations are receiving CEDR sums under $100,000 to develop community energy plans. Mag Solar is among the solar installation companies involved in helping the groups develop plans.
“We’re not just participating in solar development,” says Dhillon. “We’re focused on building indigenous-led ownership and long term [professional] capacity.”
British Columbia has 44 remote communities not connected to the provincial electricity grid, according to CEDR. “Most of these communities are governed by First Nations and depend on diesel generators for electricity generation to support their power and heating needs. Since its inception in 2022, including the 2026 intake, the CEDR program has provided approximately $30 million to 26 remote communities for 56 clean-energy projects,” the agency reported.
Building First Nation renewables capabilities
The CEDR awards in B.C. are crucial to the evolution of tribal capabilities in planning and developing renewable energy and energy efficiency, but similar support is needed in all provinces, Dhillon explains.
“Across the country, First Nations are leading the way in clean energy projects, from solar and hydro to wind and geothermal,” says Woodhouse Nepinak, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN),” in an Earth Day 2025 statement. “But barriers such as limited access to capital, jurisdictional uncertainty, and restrictive federal funding programs continue to limit our full participation in the clean energy transition.”
TheAFN is a national advocacy organization that works to advance the collective aspirations of First Nations individuals and communities across Canada on matters of national or international nature and concern.
Mag Solar is actively assisting First Nations in Alberta and B.C., and soon will offer solar development services in Saskatchewan, Manitoba and New Brunswick, says Dhillon, adding that he is a “proud member of the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation in Manitoba.” He became involved in solar for First Nations upon finding that modular home sales in these areas were delayed because the time required for connection to the grid by the utility was substantially delayed.
“What we want down the road is for these communities to lead their own solar farm and solar capacity development,” Dhillon says. “That means three things on our end. First is structuring projects so communities have equity, not just short term contracts. Second, we want to develop training pathways that create skills for the local workforce, which is huge because employment is very low within the First Nations. So we use certified trainers that we can train [local] workers and get them employed. And third, we support the growth of indigenous-owned solar companies that can operate independently over time.”
He adds, “When communities are equity partners, training becomes a workforce development with a direct pipeline into employment and business creation.”
Mag Solar in 2025 began working under contract with Treaty 8 Tribal Association in B.C., which includes 13,000 residents, Dhillon notes. Treaty 8, signed in 1899 with the Crown government, spans four provinces and territories with 39 First Nations communities. Six BC member nations are in northeastern British Columbia’s portion of the treaty territory, the association states.
“These grants are available, but how do they get the grant?” asks Dhillon. “There’s no cook book and there’s not someone [from the province] there to teach you how to do it. So we have people in house that write the grants for us, for our clients.”
Targeting diesel reduction
Diesel costs among First Nations are largely borne by provincial and federal government agencies, according to the Pembina Institute. “Diesel use in Canada’s remote First Nations communities is primarily paid for by the federal government (through Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada), which subsidizes the high costs of transporting and burning diesel for electricity. These subsidies are estimated to be between $300 million and $400 million annually,” according to one institute summary.
The current CEDR program soon will be expanded for additional rounds of awards, managed by New Relationship Trust, based in North Vancouver.
“Enrollment in the CEDR program is at an all-time high as B.C.’s diesel-dependent communities look to develop cleaner, affordable and resilient energy systems,” says Walter Schneider, the CEO of New Relationship Trust, in a statement. “The 13 projects awarded to this latest cohort will reduce the amount of diesel consumed in the province and raise the quality of life for some of B.C.’s most remote communities.”
