Jason Unrau
Northern News Services
Friday, February 23, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Up to $5,000 in interest-free loans could be available for homeowners to finance upgrades that reduce energy consumption after regular MLAs on Monday unanimously endorsed a government motion to bring forward a $5 million "Energy Efficiency Loan Program."

Monfwi MLA Jackson Lafferty tabled the directive to cabinet that, if acted on, would be "aimed at reducing energy consumption costs, including but not limited to wood stoves, pellet stoves, high-efficiency oil heaters, solar panels, improved insulation and siding, and more energy-efficient windows."

While members welcomed the motion, some questioned how far $5,000 - the maximum amount available - could go in helping NWT residents reduce their energy consumption.

"I would suggest this might be on the low side," said Kam Lake MLA Dave Ramsay, who did note the action was a "step in the right direction."

"If you're doing a major renovation such as siding or insulation work on your house, $5,000 doesn't go too far," he said.

Putting the "incentive" aspect of the program into perspective, Great Slave MLA Bill Braden spoke of recent upgrades he made to his own home that cost approximately $25,000, to which the federal government's EnerGuide program contributed a $700 rebate.

"So it wasn't a lot of money compared to the overall outlay, but that's not what I was looking for," he said. "(But) it provided me with, as I say, that incentive."