Unlocking Canada’s Stranded Renewable Energies

The document advocates for a shift in focus from Indigenous clean energy generation to transmission infrastructure, presenting it as a critical 'anchor' for Canada's climate goals. It outlines a '5 Cs' framework (cash, clarity, capacity, corruption-less, and community champions) to support deployment and provides five recommendations for policymakers to foster Indigenous-centric transmission integration, emphasizing the role of Elders, flexible participation models, and the alignment of transmission projects with Indigenous values of land preservation.

• Electricity transmission is described as the essential foundation for meeting climate goals, as renewable energy sources are often located far from urban or industrial centers. Without this infrastructure, "renewable energy generation outputs (many of which are situated in distant places full of excellent wind resources or sunny skies) have nowhere to go."
• The authors propose an expanded '5 Cs' framework to ensure successful Indigenous renewable energy deployment: cash (capital), clarity (regulatory and policy), capacity (human, technical, and financial), corruption-less practices, and community champions.
• There is a strategic alignment between the nature of transmission projects and Indigenous values, specifically regarding the preservation of environmental integrity and the long-term bond to the land. The authors note that "decarbonization-friendly transmission is likely to be preferred by communities versus fossil fuel alternatives,"
• Integrating Indigenous knowledge keepers and Elders into the project lifecycle provides both technical and social benefits. In the Wuskwatim Generating Station project, Elders assisted in site selection and community engagement, which helped overcome historical hostility toward the utility provider.
• Successful models for Indigenous participation include consortium partnerships and equity ownership. Examples include Hydro One's pledge for 50 per cent equity ownership for Indigenous nations in new Ontario lines and the Wataynikaneyap transmission line, which reduced diesel usage and supported economic growth.
• The authors warn against 'prescriptive participation,' arguing that policymakers must tailor benefits to the specific needs and capacities of different communities, whether through construction jobs, equity stakes, or professional roles.

APA

Busch, F., Krupa, J., & Hanna, K. S. (2025). Unlocking Canada’s Stranded Renewable Energies. Canadian Climate Institute. https://climateinstitute.ca/publications/unlocking-canadas-stranded-renewable-energies/

Chicago

Busch, Frank, J. Krupa, and K. S. Hanna. Unlocking Canada’s Stranded Renewable Energies. Canadian Climate Institute, 2025. https://climateinstitute.ca/publications/unlocking-canadas-stranded-renewable-energies/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Busch |first1=Frank |last2=Krupa |first2=J. |last3=Hanna |first3=K. S. |title=Unlocking Canada’s Stranded Renewable Energies |publisher=Canadian Climate Institute |date=5 June 2025 |url=https://climateinstitute.ca/publications/unlocking-canadas-stranded-renewable-energies/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{busch2025unlocking, author = {Busch, Frank and Krupa, J. and Hanna, K. S.}, title = {{Unlocking Canada’s Stranded Renewable Energies}}, institution = {Canadian Climate Institute}, year = {2025}, month = jun, url = {https://climateinstitute.ca/publications/unlocking-canadas-stranded-renewable-energies/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }