Public criticism abounds
No easy solution in sight for Inuvik gas costs
Shawn Giilck
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, October 17, 2013
INUVIK
Several Inuvik residents accused the town and energy companies of not doing enough to solve the ongoing energy crisis at a public meeting Oct. 8.
Mary Ann Ross was one of the people critical of the way the Inuvik energy crisis has been handled during a public meeting at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex Oct. 8. - Shawn Giilck/NNSL photo
|
A public meeting featuring Inuvik Gas officials, GNWT representatives and Mayor Floyd Roland attracted about 75 people to the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex.
Only a few offered any questions to the panel, but none of those people had anything positive to say about the town's energy woes, which have seen the cost of home heating nearly double in the last year.
Andre Oullet was the most vocal. He came close to a shouting match with Roland near the end of the meeting before storming out.
Last June, Oullet went public with the fact he owed Inuvik Gas nearly $35,000 for an apartment building he owns and operates. At the time, he said the rising energy costs might force him to leave town.
That situation is continuing to fester, as Oullet said he paid $5,000 last week only to receive another disconnection notice from the company.
Oullet said he couldn't understand why other Inuvik residents weren't angrier about the situation. He encouraged them to put more pressure on the council and
the energy companies.
Roland tried to cut Oullet off after he continued to come to the microphone to suggest there's a conspiracy between the town and the energy companies to let the situation get out of hand.
He told Oullet bluntly the town wasn't going to pay off his arrears, because then they'd have to do the same for everyone.
Oullet stormed out as Roland tried to move on.
"Boy, in other days I'd have invited him to put the skates on and hit the ice," Roland said.
Earlier in the meeting, he said the town is exploring every option they can think of. That includes creating a town utility company, which would allow the council to become a direct player in the energy search, rather than relying on companies such as Inuvik Gas to provide information.
The town and Inuvik Gas have served notice they won't renew their franchise agreement. That means by the summer of 2014, the town will have to find another option, or perhaps sign a short-term deal with Inuvik Gas to provide fuel for the town while the search for a more permanent solution continues.
Inuvik Gas owns the distribution system in Inuvik, so any solution has to involve the company.
For the short term, the town seems to be eyeballing liquid natural gas (LNG) as a potential viable solution.
The NWT Power Corporation in Inuvik is starting an LNG pilot project to test its potential. Current prices have it at about 10 cents cheaper per gigajoule than the synthetic natural gas currently being used by Invuik Gas.
That project should be ready to start by mid-November, spokesperson Andrew Stuart said.
Stable and safe to transport
Liquid natural gas is super-compressed and super-cooled natural gas, he explained, which is extremely stable and safe to transport.
The current supplier is located near Vancouver, B.C., but other plants are poised to come online that are closer, such as in the Yukon-B.C. boundary and Alberta, Stuart said.
It will cost about $4.5-million to convert the power corporation plant to LNG from the diesel it's currently using. That money, he said, should be paid off in savings from the LNG in about five years.
Agnes Carpenter was also critical of the council.
"You have let the town down," she said. "Why don't you people put your heads together and find a cheaper solution?"
Carpenter suggested wind power or solar energy as possible options needing more research.
"You need to think of a cheaper and better solution for the community. We have natural gas not far from here. Find a way to pipe it in or truck it in to prevent any further disasters from here in the community. I want you to find a solution that would be reasonable in cost, and not rely on importing gas."
Mary Ann Ross also conveyed her deep concern with the effect the energy problems are having in town. She's advocating some kind of homeowners coalition to be formed to prevent more Inuvik homes from going into foreclosure.
On Oct. 9, both Roland and MacKay said they were relatively happy with the meeting and discussion.
"I was excited to see such a good turnout, and understand the concerns raised on heating costs in the North," MacKay said. "The company operates meeting all codes and regulation and has confidence the system is safe and reliable. People have their opinions and I guess the Town Hall is the forum where some use to voice it."
"I believe the meeting was well-attended and I am hopeful that the information we shared was helpful for those in attendance," Roland said.
He didn't respond to requests to further comment.
