Feds need to throw switch
Power equality needed for NWT, says advocate
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Monday, March 6, 2017
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The president of the Canadian Electricity Association says the federal government has an obligation to upgrade the territory's aging infrastructure.
Sergio Marchi spoke to about 50 people at a Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce luncheon Feb. 14.
The Canadian Electricity Association represents power generating and distribution companies across the country.
"Canada was built on the principles of equality and opportunity, yet many Northern communities still lack access to safe and reliable power," Marchi told the audience.
"Despite enormous potential for clean energy, the vast majority of these communities rely on diesel to meet their basic energy needs. The cost of electricity in these regions is estimated to be more than 10 times higher per kilowatt hour than the Canadian average."
He pointed out the Yukon uses hydro to generate 98 per cent of its power, while that figure drops to 75 per cent in the NWT.
"I view it as nation building," said Marchi. "We first electrified the cities, we then electrified the rural areas and then there are areas in the North ... but when it comes to not being connected to that grid ... we perhaps have not finished that job."
Representatives of the territorial government have talked to their federal counterparts about a project that would get the South Slave region connected to the North American power grid. The proposed Taltson hydro expansion is estimated to cost between $700 million and $995 million.
