Thank you, Mr. Chair. The funds that are provided to the Arctic Energy Alliance are for all the communities throughout the Northwest Territories, not only the Yellowknife area. The bigger thing that should be noted is that we will be doing a new energy plan, and within that plan we'll be identifying for future years the direction of the department and where we should be going in the expenditures and revenues, that we'd be looking within that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Debates of June 23rd, 2016
This is page numbers 763-836 of the Hansard for the 18th Assembly, 2nd Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was mr chair.
Topics
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Daniel McNeely Sahtu
Thank you, Mr. Chair. On the bottom of the list of programs there there's Yellowknife LNG Plant Feasibility. The way I read it, there was a project undertaken in 2014-15 year, carried over, probably did some finishing and some wrapping up there, that's why there's less funding for 2015-16. And I assume that study is completed. What's going to happen with that project now or potential project after the feasibility study? Is it feasible or not or is it a one-time project and now it's done? Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Guy
Thank you, Mr. Chair. That study that we did, that was a one-time funding project to look at that option. And, in fact, we did expand it to include things like biomasses. Well, part of the issue with LNG for Yellowknife is the long supply chain and the cost. But we did complete that report and that will feed into the planning for the lifecycle replacement of the corporations' assets in Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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The Chair R.J. Simpson
Thank you, Mr. Guy. Mr. McNeely. Nothing further from Mr. McNeely. Mr. Vanthuyne.
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Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under page 389, we indicate there the electric vehicle, which was funding for the Arctic Energy Alliance to undertake an electric vehicle demonstration. As referred to earlier, the resiliency study, it didn't really indicate in there any kind of positive favouring with regard to promoting electric cars. I'm wondering if the department can maybe explain, you know, what were the outcomes from that vehicle demonstration and why wouldn't it be something that we would want to consider going forward?
I see two positives with it generally, unless I can be told otherwise. But one is that this is obviously an initiative that would get the territory off of fuel, and also this would potentially be a revenue-generating source by selling, you know, power for electrical vehicles. I wonder if the Department could please comment on that demonstration? Thank you.
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Guy
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The electrical vehicle study was funded as an energy initiative prior to the consolidation in Public Works and Services. Arctic Energy Alliance is provided one-time funding to do that work. They completed their report and the results were positive, they'll be publishing the report shortly on their website.
At the end of their study we acquired the vehicle at the Department of Public Works and we put it into our fleet to take the place of another fleet vehicle. We're doing an analysis on it now to see what the opportunities of using that type of technology in a fleet environment. As we move forward on the Energy Plan that the Minister has spoken to, we will be looking at opportunities to see if this technology can become of our future energy planning and see if we can use those type of vehicles to expand the rate base. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Cory Vanthuyne Yellowknife North
Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to Mr. Guy for his reply. And that's encouraging to hear, that the department is going to give further consideration and possibly incorporate these vehicles into their fleet. I think it's important that we lead by example. And so certainly, if this is a doable opportunity, then we certainly want to take advantage. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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Caroline Cochrane Range Lake
Thank you, Mr. Chair. The electric car is really exciting for all of us. If it was less than $400, then you would see one in the parking lot of mine as well. So thank you.
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The Chair R.J. Simpson
Thank you, Mr. Vanthuyne. Do I have further comments or questions on pages 388 and 389? Seeing none, we will move to the information item on page 390. Active positions, under energy. Comments or questions? Seeing none, we move back to page 387, energy, operations, expenditure summary. Questions on this page? Mr. O'Reilly.
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Kevin O'Reilly Frame Lake
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I am assuming this is the part of the department's budget where there would be funding to prepare a plan to get all the communities of the Northwest Territories off diesel. Is that where that sort of funding would be found? Is that something that the department is working on? Thanks, Mr. Chair.
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Guy
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes. The Member is correct. This is the page where that type of work would be funded. Within the contract services, we have some funding allocated this year to do our Energy Plan for the territories. That type of initiative around reducing reliance on diesel would be addressed through that plan. I think planning work for that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
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