Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report on two areas of energy development now under assessment by the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. Both items relate to making better use of readily available sources of energy; the power of wind and surplus heat.

Mr. Speaker, after more than a year of operation, there are encouraging results from a new type of wind generator operating in Cambridge Bay. The unit was installed by Dutch Industries of Regina in September of 1994, with financial assistance from this government and the federal Department of Natural Resources.

The twin-bladed generator can produce up to 80 kilowatts of power, or about 10 per cent of the needs of the community. Since last spring, it has performed at between 96 and 100 per cent availability when the wind is greater than six kilometres an hour. In total, it has produced more than 190,000 kilowatt hours of power, which the corporation purchases at rates comparable to diesel generation.

Another promising project is in Igloolik where two 15-kilowatt wind generators have been operating reliably for more than a year and a half.

The corporation is working with Dutch Industries to try to arrange private, community and aboriginal partnerships to install generators in other communities.

Wind power will never replace the need for diesel engines, but I'm happy to note that the unit in Cambridge Bay has displaced the need to buy about 55,000 litres of fuel.

Mr. Speaker, an additional source of energy that is readily available is the heat produced from diesel engines. Even the most efficient generators capture only one-third of the potential energy in every litre of diesel fuel burned. Most of the rest of the energy is heat.

Since the 1970s, buildings in nine communities have tapped into this available resource. The Power Corporation itself uses residual heat extensively to supply the needs of its own plants and offices.

Mr. Speaker, as community transfer initiatives become more active, local governments will be more responsible for the cost and efficiency of their buildings. The corporation is working on arrangements that may make it economic and efficient for more communities to take advantage of residual heat, especially those communities where power plants are already centrally located.

Both wind power and residual heat hold potential for reducing the cost of energy in the North and reducing the impact of our environment. But, as always, Mr. Speaker, every resident of the NWT has the responsibility to use energy wisely and use it only as needed. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.