2030 Energy Strategy
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WHAT IS THIS STRATEGY ABOUT?
The Northwest Territories 2030 Energy Strategy
(Strategy) sets out the Government of the
Northwest Territories' long-term approach
to addressing the affordability, security and
sustainability of energy supply and use in the
Northwest Territories (NWT). The goal of this
Strategy is to guide the development of affordable,
secure and sustainable energy for transportation,
heat, and electricity, support energy efficiency
and conservation, and promote renewable and
alternative energy solutions for the NWT.
Energy affordability, security and sustainability are
the key goals to this Strategy. Energy affordability is
relative, for example energy costs for lower income
families can be a big factor in the cost of living.
Energy affordability is also relative to southern
Canada where it costs less to supply and transport
energy. For this strategy affordability relates to
either stabilizing energy costs or reducing energy
costs over time. Energy security relates to having
a supply of secure, resilient, reliable and locally
produced energy. Reliability and resiliency are
critical as even short interruptions in energy supply
can quickly become a public emergency in our
cold climate. Part of the high cost of energy in the
NWT is due to the requirement to have a secure
and reliable energy supply. Energy sustainability is
not only related to reducing environment impact,
including the urgent need to address climate
change, but also local job creation, economic
development, and local self-sufficiency.
This Strategy was developed through extensive
public engagement that included regional
workshops with residents, communities, businesses,
Aboriginal governments and other stakeholders
across the NWT, written submissions, and a survey.
For this Strategy to be successful, the GNWT and
its partners including utilities, governments,
communities, residents, business, industry and
non-government organization-must work together,
be flexible, and seek funding and investment
opportunities.
We rely on energy in our daily lives. Access to
secure, affordable, and environmentally sustainable
sources of energy is essential to the prosperity
of the NWT. Energy drives our economy. Energy
is essential for everyday living in the North, and
everyone in the NWT has a part to play in achieving
a more sustainable NWT.
By supporting energy efficiency and conservation, we
can reduce the amount of energy used, which results in
lower energy bills and reduces environmental impacts.
THE OPPORTUNITIES
AND CHALLENGES
The NWT is large and sparsely populated and
remote. Long, cold, dark winters increase the
amount of energy needed to stay safe and
comfortable. Energy is required to heat and light
our homes and businesses, to transport people and
goods, and to power our industries. Our energy
supply is highly dependent on imported fossil
fuels such as diesel and gasoline-at the same
time that Canada and most nations have committed
to reduce the use fossil fuels. In this context
providing affordable, secure and sustainable energy
in the NWT is a challenge.
The national and international obligation to
address climate change has created an opportunity.
The technology needed to transition to a lower
carbon economy-such as renewables and energy
storage-is becoming less expensive, more secure,
and more suitable for use in NWT communities. This
changing landscape offers an opportunity to build
a more secure, affordable and sustainable NWT
energy system.
For communities, supporting energy efficiency and
conservation can reduce the amount of energy
used, which results in lower energy bills and
reduces environmental impacts. By supporting
community scale alternative and renewable energy
solutions, we can protect against increasing energyView entire presentation