Most databases, whether they are a library catalogue or a specialized database, allow you to search for books, journal articles, and more, with a single search.  You can then narrow your results with filters, or more advanced search options.

• Some suggested subject headings or keyword search terms:
  • energy
  • policy
  • conservation
  • development
  • renewable
  • solar
  • water
  • wind
  • alternative
  • biofuels
  • power
  • fossil fuel
• Once you've decided which terms are the most useful for your search, combine them in a boolean search. For example:
  • 'wind energy' AND canad* AND policy
    • the quotes will keep the words together
    • the * will look for alternate endings
    • AND/OR will modify a component to narrow or expand your results
• Once you see your search results, some filters to consider applying are:  books, or Journals, or Scholarly and/or Peer Review
  • You can then narrow your search further by:  Publication Date or Discipline, or Subject, etc.
• watch for any other words that are being used in your results, for example, 'water power' may be more common than 'tidal power', search both

Grey literature is an important source of information for research in public policy that: 

• adds a valuable global perspective
• provides detailed overviews on specific populations
• may be only source of local information

Grey literature is defined as "information produced on all levels of government, academics, business and industry in electronic and print formats not controlled by commercial publishing" ie. where publishing is not the primary activity of the producing body." —ICGL Luxembourg definition, 1997. Expanded in New York, 2004

Library resources

• Grey Literature Guide
• Omni (the Library's main search box) (change Content Type to types of grey literature such as government documents, conference proceedings etc.)
• Dissertations and Theses Global
• Google Scholar (change country, for example, to find international material)
• Databases such as Canadian Business and Current Affairs and Web of Science
• Business Source Complete (select publication type "Grey literature")
• Think Tanks guide

Resources

• GreyNet International (organizations in Grey Literature and repository) 

Policy Reports and Working Papers

• Conference Board of Canada e-Library  Covers areas of Economic Trends, Organizational Performance, and Public Policy.
• NBER (National Bureau of Economics Research) Working Papers
• Policy File Index Indexes research on U.S. public policy with content from public policy think tanks, university research programs, research organizations, etc.

Think Tanks

• Think Tank Search (Harvard University custom search)
• detailed subject guide from the Business School at the University of Alberta

Government Information 

• Canadian federal government documents

Industry Associations

Look for an industry association by doing a Google search such as solar energy association or sustainable energy association.   (eg. Ontario Sustainable Energy Association)         

Other sources of information relating to energy resource issues

• Canadian Energy & Emissions Data Centre (CEEDC)
• Canadian Energy Research Institute (Canadian industry-based energy information centre)
• Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) (federal and local incentives)
• Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI)
• World Resources Institute's Energy searchable website
• World Energy Council

Look for Municipal websites or groups of municipalities that have formed organizations for a common interest, some examples:

• Federation of Canadian Municipalities - look at their Focus Areas and Resources
• ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainablility (29 cities are members) - interactive database of activities, policy briefs, case studies
• Association of Municipalities Ontario - policy updates, resources, open data
• Green Communities Canada
• Muniscope (Intergovernmental Committee on Urban and Regional Research)
• CanmetENERGY