Clean Technologies Helping Northern Communities Build a Clean Energy Future
News release
July 23, 2019 Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Natural Resources Canada
Canada’s North has a wealth of untapped resources, which can help drive economic prosperity while protecting our environment.
Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for the Northwest Territories, on behalf of Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, today announced an investment of $3.8 million for six projects that will bring clean energy technologies to the Northwest Territories and help communities build a cleaner future.
These investments include:
- $2 million to the University of British Columbia from the Clean Growth Program for mining research in British Columbia and the Northwest Territories that will drastically cut pollution;
- $640,000 to the Hamlet of Aklavik from the Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program for the installation of a biomass heating system that will power the community, and another $200,000 from the Energy Efficiency Program for energy efficiency upgrades in the community;
- $400,000 to Denesoline Corp Ltd., in partnership with the British Columbia Institute of Technology, from the Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program to complete a study on hybrid renewable energy options for the Lutsel K’e Dene First Nation;
- $380,000 to the Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources from the Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program to improve energy literacy for Indigenous women and youth; and
- $229,000 to the Rat River Development Corporation from the Indigenous Forestry Initiative and Strategic Partnerships Initiative for a feasibility study that will look at adding a biomass boiler to the community’s existing heating system.
Canada’s investments in our energy future are guided by the work of the Generation Energy Council, which proposed pathways for the Government of Canada on how to move forward toward a strong, clean energy economy.
The Government of Canada will continue to invest in northern communities to foster economic growth and create good, middle-class jobs for Canadian workers.
Quotes
“By investing in our North, we are investing in future generations of Canadians, reaffirming our commitment to a cleaner future and developing technologies that give our natural resources sector a competitive edge. This is why our government is proud to support — and will continue to champion — projects like those announced today, which will help create the prosperity we all want while protecting the places we all cherish.”
Michael McLeod
Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories
“With the generous support of Natural Resources Canada and our project partners, we will advance technologies to capture and store the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide in mine waste. We will pilot field trials of carbon capture from diesel power generators in mine tailings at the Gahcho Kué mine in the Northwest Territory and carbon capture from air at a nickel mine prospect in British Columbia. The investment by the Government of Canada is critical to allowing us to field test these new technologies, which could result in the world’s first greenhouse gas neutral mine.”
Greg Dipple
Project lead and professor, University of British Columbia
“Shining lights will take participants on a journey through a chapter-by-chapter introduction to energy and energy use with a focus on energy conservation and energy efficiency at the household level, so that they may reduce their energy footprint in diesel consumption in the North.”
Shianne McKay
Project Manager, Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources
“The Hamlet of Aklavik is grateful for the interest and funding provided by NRCan supporting the Hamlet to recognize our community needs and challenges regarding energy conservation. The biomass funding will also assist our community by providing employment to harvest local feed stock for the biomass heating system as well as reduce our need for fossil fuels and reduce our greenhouse gas footprint”.
Hamlet of Aklavik
“The Tetlit Gwich’in people have been working toward a more sustainable future for the members of Fort McPherson. Thanks to a collaboration with Natural Resources Canada and our partners providing funding to create jobs and build infrastructure, this is becoming a reality. Our forestry and bio-energy project are on the leading edge this far north. Our biomass district heating system replaces fossil fuels, local harvesting of biomass fuels has proven itself to be sustainable, and our local sawmill is working in symbiosis with the bio-energy branch of the project. The accomplishments of this project are proof that the Government of Canada is recognizing the value in sustainable and prosperous futures for remote Indigenous communities.”
Abe Wilson
Manager, Rat River Development Corporation
“This generous funding will support academic, government and industry partnerships aimed at developing clean technology solutions for the mining industry. These investments will help our researchers and partners find solutions to the pressing challenge of reducing global greenhouse gas emissions in scientifically and economically innovative and important ways.”
Santa J. Ono
President and Vice-Chancellor, University of British Columbia
“The renewable energy system at Lutsel Ke can include a combination of solar, wind and hydroelectric. This will provide clean electricity for generations to come, without the harmful emissions caused by fossil fuels. Our aim is to preserve the fishing areas, the hunting grounds and the sacred areas of land. With this surge of clean and cheap energy, opportunities will arise within the community for its members. We will also support community members who wish to learn the science and engineering behind the technology, and those who wish to harness the potential of this energy.”
Haroon Bhatti
Innovations Manager, Denesoline Corporation
Related products
- INVESTMENTS IN CANADA’S NORTH BACKGROUNDER
- Generation Energy Council
- Canada’s Energy Future
- Clean Growth Program
- Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities Program
- Energy Efficiency Program
- Indigenous Forestry Initiative
- Green Infrastructure Program
- Strategic Partnerships Initiative
- FEED study for a hybrid renewable energy platform for the remote community of Lutsel K’e First Nation
- Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage in Mine Tailings
Contacts
Natural Resources Canada
Media Relations
343-292-6100
NRCan.media_relations-media_relations.RNCan@canada.ca
Vanessa Adams
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Natural Resources
343-543-7645
Vanessa.Adams@canada.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan)
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