Community energy projects powering growth in the Northwest Territories

Press Release

Projects made possible thanks to contributions from the Government of Canada

September 15, 2016 – Yellowknife, Northwest Territories – Infrastructure Canada

Protecting the environment and growing the economy go hand in hand to ensure the future health and prosperity of families in Canada’s North. Alternative and clean energy projects provide new opportunities for community growth, create jobs and improve social conditions.

Recognizing this, the communities of Aklavik, Lutsel K’e, Sachs Harbour, and Fort McPherson recently completed five infrastructure projects that have given them access to renewable energy sources, reduced their dependence on fossil fuels, and improved the energy efficiency of their existing infrastructure.

Among these five projects, the small community of Lutsel K’e built a solar farm and has become a community-owned power producer in the territory, Fort McPherson has converted their arena to LED lighting to lower energy consumption, and Aklavik has installed solar panels on an existing hamlet facility to reduce energy dependency and CO2 emissions.

Overall, the Government of Canada contributed $582,188 through the federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) for these five projects, as well as $200,000 through the ecoENERGY for Aboriginal and Northern Communities Program (EANCP) for the Lutsel K’e and Sachs Harbour projects.

Each year, the Government of Canada provides over $15 million in indexed funding for local government infrastructure projects across the Northwest Territories through the GTF. The funding can be spent on any eligible project the community prioritizes across a broad range of eligible project categories, or it can be pooled with other communities for regional projects, banked for later priorities or used to pay for financed projects.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada’s ecoENERGY for Aboriginal and Northern Communities Program (EANCP) ended on March 31, 2016. However, as outlined in Budget 2016, the Government of Canada will invest $10.7M over two years to implement renewable energy projects in off-grid Indigenous and northern communities that rely on diesel and other fossil fuels to generate heat and power. More details will be released as they become available.

Quotes

“Through the federal Gas Tax Fund, the Government of Canada is allowing communities in the Northwest Territories, and across Canada, to prioritize their infrastructure investments and decide how best to spend federal dollars. We are proud to support these infrastructure projects that help mitigate the effects of climate change and provide efficient and environmentally sustainable solutions to improve the quality of life of Northerners.”

The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi,
Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

“This announcement demonstrates the partnership between the Government of Canada, the Government of the Northwest Territories and NWT community governments to provide leadership in addressing climate change. These capital projects will support a reduction in fossil fuel use. Investments in alternative energy sources, such as the installation of solar panels and building upgrades, will reduce energy and operating costs in our communities.”

Caroline Cochrane,
Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs

Quick Facts

Project details:

Aklavik solar panels:
- Installation of 12 solar panels on an existing hamlet facility to reduce CO2 emissions and increase energy savings.
- The Government of Canada contributed $33,000 through the federal GTF.
Aklavik street lights:
- Installation of 50 new energy-efficient street lights to reduce energy costs and increase safety.
- The Government of Canada contributed $60,000 through the federal GTF.
Fort McPherson arena upgrades:
- Upgrades to the arena, including the installation of LED lighting to reduce energy consumption.
- The Government of Canada contributed $408,000 through the federal GTF.
Lutsel’Ke solar panels:
- Installation of a new community solar farm, including 144 solar panels, to reduce diesel energy dependency and energy costs.
- The Government of Canada contributed $100,000 through the EANCP and $17,104 through the federal GTF.
Sachs Harbour solar panels:
- Installation of 60 solar panels at the hamlet office to reduce operating costs and provide alternative energy for the community.
- The Government of Canada contributed $100,000 under the EANCP and $64,084 through the federal GTF.

Associated Links

Contacts

Brook Simpson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
613-219-0149
brook.simpson@Canada.ca

Jay Boast
Communications and Website Advisor
Department of Municipal and Community Affairs
Government of Northwest Territories
867-767-9162 ext. 21044
jay_boast@gov.nt.ca

Infrastructure Canada
613-960-9251
Toll free: 1-877-250-7154
infc.media-medias.infc@canada.ca
Twitter: @INFC_eng
Web: Infrastructure Canada

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