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IQALUIT - The Qulliq Energy Corporation board has chosen Qikiqgijaanik, or Jayne's Inlet, as the location for the hydroelectric project in Iqaluit, despite the community hydro committee's recommendation to develop the site at Armshow Long.

Qulliq Energy Corporation president Anne Crawford and vice-president Jamie Flaherty chat before the start of a briefing for reporters on plans for a hydroelectric project for Iqaluit in 2007. - NNSL file photo

Based on a rating of five sites, the community committee submitted its assessment to the QEC board last April, recommending Akulikutaaq (Armshow Long) as the most viable option for potential development.

After meeting this spring, however, the board settled on the Jayne's Inlet site due primarily to project cost.

"They selected Jayne's Inlet as a site where they want to do further investigations," said QEC vice-president Jamie Flaherty, who oversees the hydro project.

"When the board sat down and did brainstorming and that, they selected Jayne's because the main factor is cost... (and) they figure it will be roughly $100 million cheaper than Armshow Long."

In addition to cost, the potential for further development at the Jayne's Inlet site was another factor in the board's decision.

"The water and the cost are the main factors," said Flaherty. "We got a lot more water runoff than what they originally estimated and Jayne's was roughly 100 per cent more water than the original estimate.

"Having 100 per cent more water made the choice for the board easier.

"We have the potential to construct more along the route from Jayne's Inlet to here for other potential sites if Iqaluit would need it down the line."

Since making its recommendation, the community committee has been disbanded and replaced with a hydro committee composed of board members. Alain Carriere, the board representative for Iqaluit, could not be reached for comment on the new site selection. Likewise, QEC board chair Simon Merkosak, who sat on the original community committee, was unavailable for an interview.

Flaherty said the Jayne's Inlet site received a high ranking from the community committee. He added the committee selected the Armshow Long site because it posed the fewest environmental concerns, but that the chosen site was still sound in this regard.

"On the committee's own assessment (Jayne's Inlet) was always either number one or number two," said Flaherty. "It was always up there anyway."

The next step is to conduct an environmental study of the Jayne's Inlet site, which is due to be completed this winter. The board is also proposing to put forth a request for proposals for engineering work at the site.