Overview

Through the Municipal Energy Plan Program (MEP), you can get funding to develop a plan that will help your community:

  • improve energy efficiency
  • reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
  • study the impact of future growth on energy needs
  • foster renewable energy production and economic development
  • power your growing economy with clean energy

The program has two streams:

Stream 1: for municipalities who require funding to create a new plan

Stream 2: for municipalities who require funding to update a pre-existing complete or partial community energy plan or other energy plan.

The program does not provide funding to implement existing plans.

If your application is approved, you will enter into a funding agreement with the province, known as a transfer payment agreement.

Eligibility

All Ontario municipalities, including upper-tier municipalities, are eligible to apply.

Lower-tier municipalities must submit a letter from their upper-tier municipality confirming their support for the project.

The Indigenous Community Energy Plan Program has related funding for Indigenous communities.

Funding

We cover 50 per cent of eligible costs up to a maximum of:

  • $90,000 to create a new plan
  • $25,000 to continue work on an existing plan (e.g. update energy data or maps, engage stakeholders, or develop more detailed implementation plans)

The MEP Program provides matched funding for projects under Stream 1 and Stream 2.

Applicants can either:

  • fund the project themselves
  • seek additional funding from other sources, including other levels of government and community stakeholders

Stream 1

Stream 1 is for municipalities who require funding to create a new plan.

The program will provide up to $90,000 per project or 50% of eligible costs incurred for each milestone, whichever is less.

This funding is for:

  • stakeholder engagement
  • gathering baseline energy data and analysis of the data, which may include an energy map
  • creating a plan

Stream 2

Stream 2 is for municipalities who require funding to update a pre-existing complete or partial community energy plan or other energy plan.

The program will provide up to $25,000 or 50% of costs, whichever is less.

This funding is for augmenting or updating sections of an existing energy plan, including:

  • updating utility or structure data
  • creating new or additional implementation plans or maps

Stream 2 applicants:

  • have more flexibility in developing their milestones
  • may use funding to carry out associated activities
  • must demonstrate clearly how their proposed project is directly related to, and how it augments or enhances, their existing plan

How to apply

Applications to the program are accepted on an ongoing basis. Municipalities can apply at any time throughout the year.

To begin the application process, apply online through Transfer Payment Ontario.

Participants

Municipalities that have participated in the MEP Program include the:

  • City of Ottawa
  • City of London
  • City of Guelph
  • City of Sault Ste. Marie
  • Region of Waterloo
  • City of Hamilton
  • Town of Aurora
  • Municipality of Chatham-Kent
  • Regional Municipality of Durham
  • County of Essex
  • City of Thunder Bay
  • Municipality of Sioux Lookout
  • City of Kenora
  • City of Barrie
  • Municipality of Central Manitoulin
  • Town of Oakville
  • City of Temiskaming Shores
  • Municipality of Wawa

Contact

Email MEP@ontario.ca if you have any questions.