Quyananni. Energy is crucial to everyday life in the North, whether it's turning the lights on, TV to operating computers or equipment to get work done, residents and businesses in the Northwest Territories depend on access to reliable and affordable electricity. That is why the Government of the Northwest Territories has made it a priority to increase the use of alternative and renewable energy to help stabilize the cost of power.
The GNWT is making progress on key energy infrastructure projects that will assist us in meeting the needs of the NWT communities, residents, and businesses. To do this, we must continue to invest in the energy infrastructure that we already have to ensure we can continue to provide reliable and affordable electricity.
The overhaul of the Snare and Taltson hydro systems are two such projects. The Northwest Territories Power Corporation, which is a Crown corporation of the GNWT, is taking the lead on these two important projects.
Components of the Snare and Taltson generating facilities are approaching or have exceeded their expected lifespan. We need to upgrade these facilities and we need to do it now. This work will ensure continued reliability of these systems and avoid unexpected shutdowns that would result in burning diesel power to communities served by the Snare and Taltson, instead of using renewable hydroelectricity. The NWT has committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.
In addition to the Inuvik Wind Project there are three other energy infrastructure projects that the GNWT is advancing to help meet these commitments identified in the 2030 NWT Climate Change Strategic Framework and the 2030 Energy Strategy are the Fort Providence-Kakisa Transmission Line, the Whati Transmission Line, and the Taltson Hydro Expansion Project.
Both transmission projects would essentially eliminate the use of diesel for electricity generation in these communities and displace up to 4,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per year. The proposed 170-kilometre Fort Providence-Kakisa Transmission Line Project would use surplus hydropower from the Taltson system and $45 million in federal funding, in addition to the $15 million in GNWT funding, which have been secured to build it. We plan to submit a land use permit application for this project with the Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board this spring.
As for the Whati Transmission Line Project, the proposed 60-kilometre transmission line will tap into the surplus hydropower from the Snare system in the North Slave. This transmission line would be located almost entirely on Tlicho lands and Tlicho government to support the project. The GNWT is committed to partnering with the Tlicho government on this project and a key next step is to develop a technical study that will identify an acceptable transmission line corridor for the project.
The GNWT also continues to work with Indigenous partners on the Taltson Hydro Expansion Project. The proposed project would connect the Taltson system to Yellowknife's Snare and Bluefish hydro systems as well set the stage for energy corridor providing clean and new existing industrial customers north and south of the Great Slave Lake.
The GNWT has signed a MOU with the Akaitcho Dene First Nation and NWT Metis Nation and work is progressing on a preliminary business case for the project and transmission route options.
These projects will help meet the energy needs of our territory by using clean renewable resources right here in our backyard.
As we enter the final two years of this 19th Legislative Assembly, the GNWT is committed to advancing energy infrastructure projects in partnership with communities, Indigenous governments and organizations, and in a way that maximizes benefits for Northerners. Quyananni.