From brownfields to brightfields: Advancing a just energy transition in Indigenous communities in Canada

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

The reuse of brownfields for renewable energy development, commonly referred to as brightfields, has attracted growing attention as a strategy to remediate contaminated land, enhance energy security, and advance more equitable forms of development. While most research and practice have focused on the United States, this study examines the potential of brightfields in Indigenous communities in Canada. Drawing on a dataset of federally managed contaminated sites from a recent phase of the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP), the study combines spatial and technical estimation methods to quantify potential energy generation and associated environmental and economic benefits, and integrates survey data that capture community perspectives and priorities. Results indicate that many sites are located in rural and small communities and are of sufficient size to support renewable energy generation, with estimated annual production ranging from approximately 462,657 to 1,079,534 MWh. The estimates suggest significant potential for reducing emissions, preserving greenfield land, creating jobs, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Survey findings reveal high levels of community interest in renewable energy (93.3%) and strong prioritization of environmental protection (86.7%), energy security (66.7%), and sustainability (66.7%), alongside ongoing challenges related to energy costs, reliability, and infrastructure capacity. While brightfields present an opportunity to align remediation and clean energy with community priorities, the findings also point to risks of uneven benefit distribution and limited local control. Realizing their potential will require policy frameworks that prioritize Indigenous ownership, participation, and long-term benefit-sharing.