Diane Archie: 2030 Energy Strategy Update

Check against delivery

Mr. Speaker, strengthening our leadership and authority on climate change and enhancing efforts to stabilize the cost of power is a priority of the Government of the Northwest Territories. So is increasing the use of alternative and renewable energy.

Today, as part of our government’s integrated approach to climate change reporting, we will release four reports, including the 2020-2021 Energy Initiatives Report. This report outlines almost $38 million dollars in energy-related investments the GNWT made during the past fiscal year.

These investments not only reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and help us take real action against climate change, they also provide our communities with reliable energy and stabilize costs for residents. This supports the goals of the Northwest Territories’ 2030 Energy Strategy and 2030 Climate Change Strategic Framework.

Mr. Speaker, projects that are positively impacting residents and communities include those from the Greenhouse Gas Grant Program. One of the three projects approved this year by the GNWT was $1.1 million dollars for the installation of two wood pellet boilers in two Yellowknife schools; Mildred Hall and Range Lake North. Once these boilers are installed and operating, they are expected to reduce up to 578 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

This last year the GNWT provided over $5.3 million dollars to the Arctic Energy Alliance, resulting in nearly $2 million in incentives being given out. These funds support energy efficiency, conservation and alternative energy programs and services. Residents, businesses and communities all benefit. This fiscal year, the organization provided 1,000 more rebates than in 2019-2020, despite dealing with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We continue to advance key projects that will help us reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electricity generation in diesel communities by 25%, one of the strategic objectives of the 2030 Energy Strategy.

This summer the GNWT and the federal government announced $60 million dollars in funding to build the Fort Providence-Kakisa Transmission Line. This project will virtually eliminate diesel fuel consumption for power generation in these communities and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3,000 tonnes per year.

Mr. Speaker, the Inuvik Wind Project is another important initiative under the 2030 Energy Strategy. This 3.5-megawatt wind turbine will reduce diesel consumption in our largest off-grid community by up to 30%. The permitting phase for the project has been completed and it moved into final design. Construction is tentatively scheduled to start in the winter of 2022. 

When it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the GNWT is leading by example through the Capital Asset Retrofit Fund. This program delivers energy efficiency projects for GNWT facilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Projects completed in the last fiscal year decreased government emissions by two kilotonnes.

The GNWT continues to advance the Taltson Hydroelectricity Expansion Project. Technical work on transmission routing options is also ongoing. We expect a preliminary business case for the project later this fiscal year.

Mr. Speaker, while we have accomplished a great deal during the first three years of implementation of the 2030 Energy Strategy, we must keep moving forward. It is time to take stock of the lessons we have learned in implementing this strategy. We must combine these learnings with new research and analysis to inform a renewed strategy and accompanying Energy Action Plan.  

As the GNWT conducts this review and carries on with implementation, we will continue to engage directly with communities and Indigenous governments and organizations to ensure their participation, partnership, and empowerment when proposing and implementing energy solutions.

The GNWT cannot meet its energy and climate change objectives by acting alone. We need all Northerners to play a role. By continuing to work together, we can make it happen.

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.