The Pembina Institute's Sustainable Communities program provides communities with the information, tools and support they need to build a sustainable future.
We help communities identify and achieve their sustainability goals through a variety of services including climate action plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and become carbon neutral, energy policy recommendations for local governments, renewable energy assessments, and energy and sustainability planning.
Our Sustainable Communities Group has worked with municipalities such as Abbotsford, Bowen Island, Dawson Creek, Delta, and Smithers, and with First Nations communities in Hartley Bay, Kyuquot, Quinault and West Moberley.
Cool Tool Workshops
To date, 176 local governments in British Columbia have signed the province's Climate Action Charter, pledging to become carbon neutral by 2012. The governments that have signed the charter are eligible to receive an annual 100% carbon tax rebate.
The Cool Tool was designed by the Pembina Institute to help British Columbia municipalities become carbon neutral by 2012 and claim their annual carbon tax rebates. The Cool Tool can help municipalities save money by completing the greenhouse gas inventory and action plan needed to claim the carbon tax rebate, by eliminating the need for costly consultants, and by reducing energy bills.
For more information about the Cool Tool, please read the project overview or contact Josha MacNab.
Our Work With BC Communities
West Moberly First Nations
The West Moberly First Nations — a community whose backyard is criss-crossed by conventional energy development — is leading the way on green energy 
solutions. Last year, West Moberly completed a Community Energy Plan outlining how the community could reduce its energy use through conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy opportunities.
West Moberly was one of the first First Nations communities in British Columbia to participate in the Community Action on Energy and Emissions program, and the first to be awarded the honour of "Solar Community" by SolarBC. To learn more read the fact sheet "West Moberly First Nations: Walking the Talk."
Dawson Creek
Pembina's British Columbia Sustainable Communities team helped the City of Dawson Creek complete an energy baseline of its municipal operations and facilities. The process resulted in:
- a green municipal vehicle purchasing policy,
- municipal building energy efficiency audits and retrofits, and
- solar domestic water heating systems.
We are currently assisting the community with the design of an Integrated Community Sustainability Plan. When the plan is complete, Dawson Creek residents and municipal leaders will have a shared vision for a sustainable future that includes sustainability targets, strategies, an implementation process and a system for monitoring progress towards their vision. Visit planningforpeople.ca to learn more.
Gitga'at First Nation
The Pembina Institute also completed a Community Energy Plan for the Gitga'at First Nation in Hartley Bay. The project included:
- a baseline energy assessment,
- an energy demand forecast,
- a survey of household energy use,
- stream flow monitoring, and
- a pre-feasibility study for small-scale hydro options.
The Gitga'at First Nation is implementing the plan's recommendations and has begun construction of a mini-hydro system which will replace diesel generators as the community's primary source of electricity. Shifting to clean, renewable hydro power will save the community money over time while also significantly reducing air pollution and the environmental risks associated with diesel fuel spills.
For more information on the services we offer and the communities we've worked with, please visit the Sustainable Communities website.
