Clean energy programs for Indigenous businesses and communities

Ranked programs

6 open, ongoing or intake-based programs, best score first.

1. First Nations Community Building Retrofit Program

   IESO (Save on Energy)

   Energy-efficiency retrofits for community buildings in on-reserve First Nations.

   OngoingOntarioOther incentivesUp to $330K
   41

   Strong

2. Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (CGHAP)

   Natural Resources Canada (transitioning to Environment and Climate Change Canada); delivered through provincial and territorial programs

   Provides low-to-median-income homeowners and tenants with no-cost home retrofits such as insulation and heat pumps. Selected organizations deliver the work directly, so...

   OngoingFederalOther incentives
   33

   Worth a look

3. Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit

   Canada Revenue Agency / Natural Resources Canada

   Refundable credit of up to 15% of capital cost of eligible clean electricity property (generation, storage, transmission), open to taxable corporations and also to...

   OngoingFederalOther incentives
   31

   Worth a look

4. Northern REACHE (Northern Responsible Energy Approach for Community Heat and Electricity)

   Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)

   Funds clean energy projects and related capacity building and planning in northern communities to reduce reliance on diesel for heating and electricity.

   OngoingFederalGrants
   23

   Long shot

5. Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund (NSCSF)

   Environment and Climate Change Canada

   A ten-year fund backing projects that avoid, restore or better manage ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, peatlands and grasslands to cut greenhouse gas emissions...

   Intake-basedFederalGrants
   14

   Long shot

6. Indigenous Opportunities Financing Program (formerly Aboriginal Loan Guarantee Program)

   Building Ontario Fund (previously Ontario Financing Authority)

   Provincial financial guarantees on loans or bonds that let Indigenous-owned entities buy equity stakes in eligible energy, critical minerals and resource development...

   OngoingOntarioLoans
   13

   Long shot

Questions

How many clean energy programs for Indigenous businesses and communities are open right now?

Of the 22 clean energy programs for Indigenous businesses and communities in our database, 5 are open or ongoing and 1 take applications only in intake windows. The rest are closed, paused or of unknown status, so they are not ranked on this page. Counts reflect our last check on Oct 11, 2026; programs can change without notice.

What is the largest published amount among these programs?

First Nations Community Building Retrofit Program publishes the largest figure on this page, shown as "Up to $330K". Published figures are program maximums, caps or limits, not what an applicant should expect to receive; many programs pay a share of eligible costs and amounts depend on your project and eligibility.

Which clean energy programs for Indigenous businesses and communities rank highest?

Right now the top three by our score are First Nations Community Building Retrofit Program (41, Strong), Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program (33, Worth a look), Clean Electricity Investment Tax Credit (31, Worth a look). The score combines the size of the published amount, how much work an application takes, how likely an eligible applicant is to succeed and how many people qualify.

Do I have to pay this money back?

It depends on the program. Grants and incentives are generally not repaid, loans always are, and some contribution agreements are partly or fully repayable, so read the terms of each program. Among the 5 open or ongoing programs here, 1 are in our Grants category, 1 are loans and 3 are other incentives such as tax credits and rebates.

Are these federal or Ontario programs?

3 of the 5 open or ongoing programs here come from the federal government and 2 from the Ontario government. Both levels can usually be combined, but many programs have stacking rules that cap total government funding for the same costs, so check them before you apply.

Is this an official government website?

No. Grants & Loans Finder is an independent research tool. Each program page links to the official source, and applications are always made with the government agency or lender that runs the program.