CALGARY — The federal government is investing more than $26 million in 17 clean energy projects across Alberta and Saskatchewan, funding initiatives ranging from energy storage and renewable power to methane reduction, renewable natural gas and grid modernization.
The announcement, made by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson during the Calgary Stampede, is aimed at strengthening Canada’s electricity system, supporting industrial decarbonization and improving long-term energy security.
The largest portion of the funding, $14.9 million, will support 10 projects focused on battery energy storage, solar and wind development, Indigenous-led clean energy initiatives, workforce development and planning for new interprovincial electricity transmission infrastructure. Another $5.9 million will fund engineering and design work for two facilities that would convert waste biomass into renewable natural gas while incorporating carbon capture technology.
An additional $3.5 million will help reduce methane emissions from upstream oil and gas operations and advance low-carbon cement technologies capable of permanently storing carbon dioxide. The remaining $2.3 million will support projects aimed at improving energy-efficiency building codes.
“Energy is the backbone of our economy,” Hodgson said, adding that modernizing Canada’s energy systems will help attract investment, create jobs, stabilize energy costs and strengthen the country’s long-term economic competitiveness.
Indigenous Services Minister Mandy Gull-Masty said the investments will also help Indigenous communities develop renewable energy projects that improve local energy security while creating economic opportunities and advancing self-determination.
Most of the projects are funded through the federal Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs), a $4.5-billion initiative designed to accelerate renewable electricity, energy storage and grid modernization across Canada. Indigenous Services Canada is also contributing funding toward pre-development work for Indigenous-led solar projects.
The announcement supports Canada’s broader National Electricity Strategy, which aims to double the country’s electricity grid capacity by 2050. It also follows a federal commitment announced in June to advance planning for major transmission interties connecting Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Manitoba and Yukon.
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