Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Arctic Energy Alliance helps communities create their own energy plans. This helps them to use energy more efficiently and use more renewable energy and less fossil fuels. The Arctic Energy Alliance says that community energy plans create more local jobs, save money, and funds new energy projects.
Mr. Speaker, in Whati, the Arctic Energy Alliance helped the community to develop plans to shut down their noisy diesel power plant in the middle of town and replace it with a small hydro operation. The community of Whati partnered with Ecology North in 2002 to create this community energy plan. When it was completed in 2004, it set a new standard for community energy plans throughout the Canadian North.
Whati's main focus is on building a runoff river hydroelectric plant, Mr. Speaker. They plan to construct it in 2007. Mr. Speaker, the community of Whati really benefited from their work with the Arctic Energy Alliance and came away with a lot of positive objectives, such as gaining more local control over energy management by becoming a partner in energy generation and delivery to the community.
Mr. Speaker, another object of the community is to produce extra electricity at a reasonable price to meet future needs for 20 years, Mr. Speaker, encourage local business development of possible export to nearby locations. Mr. Speaker, these are all very commendable objectives, however, the community has to pay to build the runoff river hydro power plant. The community has very many competing capital needs, Mr. Speaker, and cannot afford to pay them for all the cost factors. Mr. Speaker, if the government is really serious about helping communities be energy efficient, that we spoke about in this House on numerous occasions, cost effective when they need to, then they need to support the implementation of these initiatives and not just the planning. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
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