148 Indigenous-led energy projects get $25M to boost local planning and skills

What’s happening

• The 2025 intake of the Indigenous Energy Support Program (IESP) will fund 148 Indigenous-led projects with $25 million provided through the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO).

By the numbers

• 148 projects funded in 2025.
• $25 million available for the 2025 IESP intake (the IESO funding envelope was increased by $10 million in 2025).
• Since 2009 the IESO has awarded about $107.50 million to 185 Indigenous communities and organizations.

What the funding supports

• Capacity Building: education, awareness, energy skills training, and hiring Community Energy Champions.
• Economic Development: access to project partnerships and energy infrastructure, plus an enhanced Remote Projects Development stream to support diesel reduction in nine identified off-grid First Nation communities.
• Energy Resiliency and Monitoring: development and updates of community energy plans and related initiatives.

Who it affects

• Indigenous communities and organizations across the province, including identified off-grid First Nation communities targeted for diesel-reduction support.

Next steps and timing

• Applications for the 2026 IESP intake are open; the deadline to apply is October 2, 2026.