TUKTOYAKTUK - Nunakput MLA Jackie Jacobson is still pushing for Tuktoyaktuk's promised wind turbines to be set up in the community by next summer, even though that project may be in jeopardy.

Aurora Research Institute summer intern student Michael Rowen, right, helps the institute's consultant J.P. Pinard raise the demonstration one kilowatt turbine at the institute in Inuvik in summer 2005. The windmill was taken down last week as the institute prepares to move into a new office. - NNSL file photo

The $4 million plan to install four wind turbines, which would harness the power of the community's high winds to generate electricity, was to be handled by the Tuk Community Corporation and financially supported by the federal and territorial governments as well as the Tuk Power Corp. But in the legislative assembly Oct. 20, Jacobson suggested the community corporation may pull out of the project because of "misunderstandings" about the turbines' added cost to the community.

Jacobson told News/North last week he didn't fully understand the community corporation's concerns, since the most recent progress report he received said everything was on schedule and the turbines were due to be constructed by summer 2011.

"I don't see where they're trying to say it's going to cost us," Jacobson said. "If Tuk doesn't want it, I could make sure it gets pulled in to one of my other (constituent) communities" of Paulatuk, Sachs Harbour and Ulukhaktok, he added.

When asked about the status of the project, Tuk Community Corp. (TCC) representative John Russell said the organization wasn't prepared to give out any information.

"It will be done in the future but right now we have no comment on it," he said.

Jacobson emphasized his support for wind power generation in Tuk, saying the construction of the Northwind 100 turbines would create upwards of 20 jobs for Tuk residents, not including possible long-term maintenance positions and savings on power bills. He said representatives from the TCC and Tuk's hamlet saw the turbines in action on a visit to Alaska nearly two years ago.

"The biggest thing is trying to make this happen for the people. That's my bottom line, is trying to save people money, because you know how much we pay for groceries in the communities," Jacobson said. "You're either paying bills or you're buying groceries for your kids. That's a choice you have every two weeks."

Tuk Mayor Merven Gruben said he and Jacobson had a meeting about the matter on Monday afternoon.

"They're still trying to make it happen and I'm pretty sure it will," said Gruben.

Other Beaufort Delta communities, including Inuvik and Ulukhaktok, started wind turbine pilot projects in the past but communities have yet to rely on wind generation as a major source of power.

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