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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A government climate change delegation recently returned home from a trip to three Scandinavian countries with some fresh ideas its members believe will clean up the territory, and save money in the process.

MLAs Bob Bromley and David Krutko held a press conference Tuesday to discuss what they learned during their biomass fact-finding trip to Denmark, Finland and Sweden from April 25 to May 7.

From left, Mackenzie Delta MLA David Krutko and Weledeh MLA Bob Bromley discuss Tuesday what they saw and learned during a nine-day fact-finding trip that took them, one consultant and two government workers, through Denmark, Sweden and Finland. - Herb Mathisen/NNSL photo

Bromley said there were four considerations: how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, how to reduce the high cost of living in the NWT, how to invigorate local economies and opportunities and how to use the vast territorial forest for biomass initiatives.

Bromley said these countries are a great example for the NWT, as government policies – like raising gas taxes, limiting personal fossil fuel usage and making housing energy retrofits mandatory – have moved them to the forefront of developing and implementing biomass energy technologies,

"In regards to the Scandinavian countries 30 years ago, that's where we are today," said Krutko.

Krutko spoke about developing a forest management plan to potentially start up a wood pellet production industry.

"Why is it that Canada, which is the second largest producer of wood pellets, is exporting them to Europe and Scandinavian countries ... and yet we continue to consume fossil fuels?" he asked.

He said Canadians can learn from the Scandinavian philosophy to not waste anything.

"From tree branches to tree stumps to whatever. They salvage anything and they use it," he said.

"I think as Canadians, that's our biggest downfall. We dispose of so much garbage and so much junk that we don't realize that we can use it for something else."

Krutko suggested, if the pipeline goes through and a tract of forest is cleared to make way for it, the brush could be used to create wood pellets. Wood pellet boilers – a cleaner source of energy than traditional diesel generators – could then heat water treatment plants and schools in communities, he said.

Bromley said the government would save money by not throwing away "boomerang dollars" – money budgeted for communities, which immediately goes south to pay for fuel, employing people outside the North – and local economies would improve with jobs created from people cutting wood to run the systems.

Although not final, Bromley said the trip cost the territorial government between $40,000 and $60,000 – proving perhaps you have to spend money to save money.

Bromley said there are currently biomass systems capable of generating enough heat and electricity to power small communities. He pointed out a $250,000 biomass plant capable of satisfying communities the size of Lustel K'e or Whati without using fossil fuels. He said they cost the around the same price as diesel turbines currently used around the NWT.

Bromley said he really wants to see communities become more sustainable, or able to provide for their own energy needs.

The two MLAs are part of the climate change committee, that includes Environment minister Michael Miltenberger and Transportation minister Michael McLeod.

Bromley and Krutko will draft a report for the committee by mid-June, making recommendations on different opportunities the government – or private citizens – can take advantage of around the NWT.

Bromley hoped the report could be reviewed by MLAs before the business planning session in October, so some biomass projects could go ahead.

The latest territorial government put forth $60 million over four years for these kinds of alternative energy initiatives, and Bromley said he'd like to see one biomass project installed in the NWT per year for the next three years, on top of mini hydro-projects recently announced.

Bromley said the report will also ask what the roles of private industry, First Nations and the NWT Power Corporation will be in implementing these types of alternative energy strategies.