SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Becoming carbon neutral by 2025 is just one of many targets proposed in the city's new community energy plan, unveiled by administration at Monday's committee meeting.

The city is examining whether wind farms, such as these at Diavik Diamond Mine, are a feasible form of power generation. The city's new community energy plan proposes to undertake measures that would make it carbon neutral by 2025. - NNSL file photo

The new 10-year plan suggests city-owned properties will be 100 per cent dependent on renewable energy by 2025, while setting targets to keep its energy costs to 25 per cent below inflation over the same period.

While these goals might seem ambitious, Carl Bird, director of corporate services, pointed out that cities such as Copenhagen and Sydney, Australia are both aiming to be carbon neutral by 2025.

“If big cities like that can do it, so can we,” said Bird.

The city produced 4,529 tonnes of greenhouse gasses in 2013, according to Bird. The new wood pellet boiler for Pumphouse No.1, which will be put to tender in the next few months, is expected to reduce those emissions by 503 tonnes alone. Another wood pellet boiler for the Multiplex arena is expected to cut emissions by 977 tonnes.

He added the city could put a pellet boiler at city hall and then use it to help power other non-city facilities nearby such as the RCMP building, thereby reducing emissions even more.

However, to become carbon neutral the city will likely have to invest in new technologies, such as a “biodigester” at the dump's baling facility that would convert food waste and cooking oil into a methane-rich gas called bio-gas, which can then be used to generate power. At an estimated cost of $3 million, it is expected that such a machine could produce 1.97 million kilowatts of electricity, or 17 per cent of the city’s current power usage.

The city is also considering whether to invest in wind power. During his presentation, Bird said one of the reasons for developing the new community energy plan was to determine the feasibility of developing a wind farm to generate power for Yellowknife.

On top of benefiting the environment, reducing the city's carbon emissions could save it millions of dollars. As a result of previous energy retrofits, the city has reduced its annual operating costs by approximately $500,000 while cutting its reliance on greenhouse gases by more than 24 per cent.

By keeping the city's energy costs at 25 per cent below inflation in 2025, it is expected the city could save up to $2.62 million a year, he said.

“The community energy plan is going to help us get to that from a cost perspective,” Bird said.

The city's current 10-year community energy plan expires this year. Council has yet to vote on the latest energy plan, which would take effect in 2015 if approved.

“I think administration is heading in the right direction,” added Coun. Bob Brooks.

Council approved $160,000 worth of environmental retrofits, including solar panels and LED lights earlier this year.

The new community energy plan is expected to cost $130,000 to develop, which is tied to a possible $65,000 investment from the federal government.