In an effort to reduce diesel dependency in remote Northern Ontario a new partnership combines wind turbines specifically designed for extreme Northern climates, with a storage system that uses hydrogen and a fuel cell to generate electricity. This off-grid hybrid power system provides a lower-cost, environmentally friendly solution to alleviate the significant financial burden of diesel power systems on remote communities. A key element of the project focuses on developing best practice methods for community engagement with respect to mapping energy needs with the alternative resources available, resulting in customized conservation programming. Led by the University of Waterloo, project partners include Hydro One Remote Communities Inc. and the Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund (Thunder Bay).