diff --git a/pros/cli/conductor.py b/pros/cli/conductor.py
index 1a1d2f66..d9d3cc89 100644
--- a/pros/cli/conductor.py
+++ b/pros/cli/conductor.py
@@ -178,6 +178,8 @@ def uninstall_template(project: c.Project, query: c.BaseTemplate, remove_user: b
 @click.argument('path', type=click.Path())
 @click.argument('target', default=c.Conductor().default_target, type=click.Choice(['v5', 'cortex']))
 @click.argument('version', default='latest')
+@click.option('--download/--no-download', 'download_ok', default=True, show_default=True,
+              help='(Dis)allow download and use of remote templates in new projects')
 @click.option('--force-user', 'force_user', default=False, is_flag=True,
               help='Replace all user files in a template')
 @click.option('--force-system', '-f', 'force_system', default=False, is_flag=True,
@@ -207,23 +209,45 @@ def new_project(ctx: click.Context, path: str, target: str, version: str,
                                '! Delete it first. Are you creating a project in an existing one?', extra={'sentry': False})
         ctx.exit(-1)
     try:
-        _conductor = c.Conductor()
-        if target is None:
+        project = _create_project(ctx=ctx, path=path,target=target, version=version,
+                        force_user=force_user, force_system=force_system,
+                        compile_after=compile_after, build_cache=build_cache, **kwargs)
+        ctx.exit(project.compile([], scan_build=build_cache))
+    except Exception as e:
+        try:
+            kwargs['allow_online'] = False
+            project = _create_project(ctx=ctx, path=path,target=target, version=version,
+                        force_user=force_user, force_system=force_system,
+                        compile_after=compile_after, build_cache=build_cache, **kwargs)
+            logger(__name__).error('Could not connect to GitHub. Check your internet connection or consult a network administrator.',
+                                       extra={'sentry': False})
+            ctx.exit(project.compile([], scan_build=build_cache))
+        except Exception as _e:
+            pros.common.logger(__name__).exception(e)
+            ctx.exit(-1)
+
+
+def _create_project(ctx: click.Context, path: str, target: str, version: str,
+                force_user: bool = False, force_system: bool = False,
+                no_default_libs: bool = False, compile_after: bool = True, build_cache: bool = None, **kwargs):
+    """
+    Helper function for new_project
+
+    Visit https://pros.cs.purdue.edu/v5/cli/conductor.html to learn more
+    """
+    _conductor = c.Conductor()
+    if target is None:
             target = _conductor.default_target
-        project = _conductor.new_project(path, target=target, version=version,
+    project = _conductor.new_project(path, target=target, version=version,
                                          force_user=force_user, force_system=force_system,
                                          no_default_libs=no_default_libs, **kwargs)
-        ui.echo('New PROS Project was created:', output_machine=False)
-        ctx.invoke(info_project, project=project)
-
-        if compile_after or build_cache:
-            with ui.Notification():
-                ui.echo('Building project...')
-                ctx.exit(project.compile([], scan_build=build_cache))
-
-    except Exception as e:
-        pros.common.logger(__name__).exception(e)
-        ctx.exit(-1)
+    ui.echo('New PROS Project was created:', output_machine=False)
+    ctx.invoke(info_project, project=project)
+    if compile_after or build_cache:
+        with ui.Notification():
+            ui.echo('Building project...')
+    return project
+    
 
 
 @conductor.command('query-templates',
diff --git a/pros/conductor/conductor.py b/pros/conductor/conductor.py
index ebe3f43a..f8c5cb7f 100644
--- a/pros/conductor/conductor.py
+++ b/pros/conductor/conductor.py
@@ -97,11 +97,13 @@ def purge_template(self, template: LocalTemplate):
             shutil.rmtree(template.location)
         self.save()
 
-    def resolve_templates(self, identifier: Union[str, BaseTemplate], allow_online: bool = True,
+    def resolve_templates(self, identifier: Union[str, BaseTemplate], 
                           allow_offline: bool = True, force_refresh: bool = False,
                           unique: bool = True, **kwargs) -> List[BaseTemplate]:
         results = list() if not unique else set()
         kernel_version = kwargs.get('kernel_version', None)
+        allow_online = kwargs.get('allow_online', True)
+        download_ok = kwargs.get('download_ok', True)
         if isinstance(identifier, str):
             query = BaseTemplate.create_query(name=identifier, **kwargs)
         else:
@@ -112,7 +114,7 @@ def resolve_templates(self, identifier: Union[str, BaseTemplate], allow_online:
                 results.update(offline_results)
             else:
                 results.extend(offline_results)
-        if allow_online:
+        if allow_online and download_ok:
             for depot in self.depots.values():
                 online_results = filter(lambda t: t.satisfies(query, kernel_version=kernel_version),
                                         depot.get_remote_templates(force_check=force_refresh, **kwargs))
@@ -173,7 +175,7 @@ def apply_template(self, project: Project, identifier: Union[str, BaseTemplate],
         if 'kernel' in project.templates:
             # support_kernels for backwards compatibility, but kernel_version should be getting most of the exposure
             kwargs['kernel_version'] = kwargs['supported_kernels'] = project.templates['kernel'].version
-        template = self.resolve_template(identifier=identifier, allow_online=download_ok, **kwargs)
+        template = self.resolve_template(identifier=identifier, **kwargs)
         if template is None:
             raise dont_send(
                 InvalidTemplateException(f'Could not find a template satisfying {identifier} for {project.target}'))