Atlin Community Energy Plan

Atlin has a new community energy plan, shaped by input from local residents as well as local experiences with energy, energy consumption, and anticipated growth of the community.

Download the Atlin CEP

What is a Community Energy Plan (CEP)?

A CEP identifies current energy use in a community, projected energy needs in the future, and a roadmap for how energy will continue to be provided now and in the future. The CEP will consider how Atlin residents use energy – to get around, heat and cool buildings, and power appliances – and the sources of that energy. A CEP is critical for making sure that safe, reliable, affordable, and clean energy continues to be produced locally – while reducing reliance on diesel and other trucked-in fossil fuels.

How is Atlin currently ‘ENERGIZED’?

Atlin is fortunate that much of its electricity comes from a hydroelectric power-generating facility east of the community, harnessing the energy of the streamflow between Surprise Lake and Atlin Lake.  When it was built in 2008, it was the first 100% Indigenous-owned green power facility in Canada.

Atlin currently imports diesel for supplementary power generation, and additional fossil fuels for vehicles, boats, and to heat buildings. Many homes also rely on firewood during the winter.

Atlin’s New Community Energy Plan (CEP)

The new CEP builds off the comments of local residents who shared their priorities about the local energy system during the public engagement process that informed the new plan. They said that prioritizing the use of local, renewable energy sources is in the best interests of the community, supports greater energy security and local jobs, reduces carbon emissions, and brings more revenue to support multiple community priorities.

This includes using more of the electricity that the hydro-electric system is already able to provide, for transportation as well as the heating and cooling of buildings. It also includes using new energy storage technology (such as new battery technology), which could enable the community to reduce the use of diesel even more than it already has. Simply prioritizing the use of local, renewable energy whenever possible will keep energy dollars local and provide more funds for community priorities. This is an exciting opportunity for the community!

What do you think? Check out the Atlin Community Energy Plan and consider how it supports your vision for Atlin’s future.

The Atlin Community Energy Plan was prepared by the Community Energy Association under the leadership of Xeitl Limited Partnership, which operates the existing Atlin hydro system. Funding for the CEP has been provided by the New Relationship Trust.