Whitehorse Daily Star

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DEVELOPING ENERGY FOR THE FUTURE – John Streicker (left), the Liberals’ Mount Lorne-Southern Lakes candidate for the Nov. 7 election, discusses the party’s energy policy commitments during Friday’s news conference. Beside him is Liberal Leader Sandy Silver.

Liberals slam hydro dam plan in setting energy policy

A territorial Liberal government would reduce the Yukon’s dependency on fossil fuels for its energy, says Liberal Leader Sandy Silver.

By Chuck Tobin on October 17, 2016

A territorial Liberal government would reduce the Yukon’s dependency on fossil fuels for its energy, says Liberal Leader Sandy Silver.

Silver and John Streicker, the party’s Mount Lorne-Southern Lakes candidate for the Nov. 7 election, laid out several commitments Friday during a press conference to unveil the party’s strategy.

The Liberals would provide $30 million annually to retrofit residential, commercial and government buildings.

They would ensure all street lights in the territory are converted to energy-saving and longer-lasting LED lights.

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) would no longer be available under the new Independent Power Production policy as a source of energy for parties interested in selling commercial quantities of electricity back to the grid.

“The decision to include LNG was a step in the wrong direction,” Streicker said.

A Liberal government, the two said, would plan for and implement an energy strategy focused on conservation and renewable technologies, including small hydro generation, wind, solar and geothermal, to provide for future needs.

If there is a hydro project to be built, Silver promised, it would be done in full partnership with the local First Nation.

“That makes good sense, respects our treaty obligations and also makes good business sense,” said the Liberal leader.

“It is the exact opposite approach of the current government, which has made decisions first and consulted First Nations later. We all know where that brought us.”

Silver again described the Yukon Party’s Next Generation Hydro project – an initiative to identify the site for the next major hydro dam – as a failure.

He branded it as nothing but an expensive public relations stunt that cost taxpayers more than $2 million.

The focus on the new LNG generating plant next to the Whitehorse Rapids Dam was over-budget by 25 per cent, Silver said, and pushed any consideration of renewable options into the future.

The party leader and Streicker pulled no punches when discussing the Yukon Party’s management – or mismanagement – of the energy portfolio.

Only the territorial Liberals are promising to return 100 per cent of any federal carbon tax to Yukoners in the form of rebates, they insisted.

Streicker said working in partnership with communities, ATCO Electric Yukon, Yukon Energy and the Yukon Utilities Board, replacing street lights is an achievable goal.

Indeed, he acknowledged, it will require a capital investment, but the return is not just measurable in dollars but also in less demand on the grid.

Even if the utilities board does not provide its approval to pass on the cost of the street light conversion to ratepayers, Silver insisted, a Liberal government would make sure government money is available to fund the project.

The Liberal party recognizes there is currently a need for having reliable back-up generation on the grid powered by diesel or natural gas, Streicker explained.

He said contrary to the Yukon Party’s position, however, the Liberals would not allow potential independent power producers such as mining companies to profit from the commercial sale of excess electricity generated by burning natural gas.

Allowing private interests to profit from the sale of electricity using LNG as a fuel source would only place the Yukon further down the slope of increased dependency on fossil fuels, Streicker said.

“We do not want our energy future powered by fossil fuels.”

Streicker said key to the territory’s energy future is finding some way of storing more of the excess energy available in the summer.

Silver and Streicker indicated the commitment to provide $30 million a year to retrofit buildings is sort of the shining star of Friday’s policy announcements.

It reduces energy consumption while creating jobs and expertise, they agreed.

The also agreed it’s not going to happen overnight; that it will take time to assess local capacity to carry out the work, time to build on that local capacity.

But Silver said he would want to see the full $30 million budgeted for retrofitting no later than the beginning of their third year in office.

“This is the one we are excited about; this is the one that is going to create jobs,” Streicker said.

“It is better than renewable because you are not needing renewable in the first place.”

Comments (19)

Up 1 Down 2

This statement shows the liberals are not in touch with real world on Oct 22, 2016 at 3:18 pm

on the ground. Electric driven buses would reduce a lot of carbon. Small wind energy generation on buildings would be smarter.

Up 6 Down 9

You know what interesting in this election on Oct 20, 2016 at 12:21 pm

Right from the get-go the NDP and Liberals have been reacting just like over the last five years.
Look at today, the Yukon party is looking at a second bridge into Riverdale.
That is forward and pro-active thinking for Yukoners going into the future.
The Yukon is about families, people needs, what's important over the next five years,
Yukoner want jobs and their kids to come back and their seniors looked after.
It is not hard to see.
It is easier and proven around the world that minimum wage increases hurt the economy and the cost of everything goes up.
Alberta is learning that now.
It is better to reduce or eliminate taxes on low income earners.
This has the same effect as putting money in their pockets and does not drive up costs.

Up 9 Down 1

common sense? on Oct 19, 2016 at 8:12 pm

What about garbage incineration to make heat which is then captured and turned into power? The land fill is a disgusting mess anytime I've been up there, would clean that up and generate power. There are many technologies out there that can be found with a quick Google search on waste reduction/power generation. LNG should be developed to power the busses, city equipment and trucks. That would reduce the use of diesel fuel by alot, clean up the air and provide jobs. Good paying non government based jobs that the avg person can obtain. It's time to move into this century Yukon. It's common sense.

Up 14 Down 14

No business supports the Liberals and especially the NDP on Oct 19, 2016 at 11:55 am

Both parties have shown how they are going to kill the Yukon economy
NDP want more taxes not a competitive way to help low income earners.
Liberals will stop major projects from going ahead by not letting them use LNG and sell any excess.
Liberals have destroyed a First Nations partnership in the LNG plant in Whitehorse.
What next liberals?

Up 15 Down 29

Plywood on Oct 18, 2016 at 3:16 pm

LED lights for street lamps? What about them icing up ?
The lack of heat diffusion is no big deal in a house, but it actually serves a purpose on street lamps in winter.

Or will the Liberals hire someone with a long pole and brush?

Up 24 Down 22

Cabs on Oct 18, 2016 at 2:10 pm

I noticed that the headquarters for Premier Cabs is covered in Yukon Party signs. Guess I will be taking Grizzly from now on. If a business is going to support the lawsuit party, I'm not going to support them.

Up 21 Down 22

George Hall on Oct 18, 2016 at 1:33 pm

This is the most comprehensive energy policy proposal that I have seen so far out of the 4 parties. 30 million into renewables sounds good to me as we can join other world leaders in benefiting from new technologies like U.S., Germany, China, Morrocco to name a few. Time to see what is going on in the rest of the world.

Up 17 Down 7

GQ on Oct 18, 2016 at 1:22 pm

Amen North_of_60! This is the best and greenest thing the Yukon can do to change its energy picture. I'm amazed John Streicker would even allude to it, given the vitriolic opposition that Marsh Lake residents had to it - but good on him.

Up 22 Down 9

Fed up Yukoner on Oct 18, 2016 at 10:19 am

The feds under Harper signed on to a carbon tax, just never did anything about it like everything else concerned with the science of global warming, Paz knew about this as well as the rest of the Premiers, he can do absolutely nothing about a carbon tax although he seems to think he has clout. Regarding the Restricting LNG post who the heck will we sell extra power to, mirage mines? Alaska? by the way how long will it take to pay for the $40 million to build the LNG plant through use, ummm never...resource development will happen when the price of minerals go up, hopefully that happens. Lots of wheel spinning going on.

Up 28 Down 10

Russell Guspie on Oct 17, 2016 at 7:40 pm

Seems to me a lot of pie in the sky. They want to find some way of harnessing the excess energy produced during the summer. So what is taking them so long to figure this out? They have had plenty of time to think about it. LNG is a very clean fossil fuel, much better than diesel. I appreciate the desire to lessen our need for fossil fuels but we need much more than what the Liberals are suggesting. Maybe we should all go back to horse and buggy.

Up 21 Down 21

Liberals don't have a platform just like the last election on Oct 17, 2016 at 7:29 pm

Wow I can't believe it - no platform for the liberals

Up 20 Down 30

Joe on Oct 17, 2016 at 6:10 pm

Although I don't always agree with any party's policies ( partisan lines are blurred, that's for sure) I really like Sandy's committment to collaboration with First Nations and listening to all Yukon residents. It's refreshing and in line with today's way of thinking. The only way we can get out of the economic turmoil the YP and their inexperienced appointed party supporters in key positions have created is to undue the mess and work together with FN's and all special interest groups to create a territory that is inviting to industry. Rather simple when you think about it.

Up 25 Down 21

wake up on Oct 17, 2016 at 6:03 pm

I really hope that everyone who likes to get out there for a drive, snowmobiling, boating or hunting realizes that these people will make it 30% more expensive. Their weather scam is nothing more than a plan to send money to 3rd world despots. I wonder if Sandy has been forthcoming to his Klondike constituents what little potatoes weather tax will cost them? I guess Sandy panders to the hippsters up there so it's a good chance they are clueless.

Up 32 Down 4

north_of_60 on Oct 17, 2016 at 5:19 pm

Those who think our energy problems can be solved with cheap Asian solar panels and batteries don't understand the scale of what's needed to make any significant impact on fossil fuel used for back-up winter electricity. Their solar ideas might work OK for off-grid families who are passionately committed to their 'independent' lifestyle, however solar falls far short of what's needed, even with a small grid like ours. There are much better renewable options. They don't need bogus CarbonTaxes to succeed.

Southern Lakes Enhanced Winter Storage Concept is one of those potential options.
The concept proposes to raise the controlled maximum level ... in the fall by about 30 centimeters and to lower the spring low level by 10 centimeters. The additional water would be released over the winter months, giving Yukon Energy the ability to produce more power ... during times of greatest energy demand.

This could be done without any new infrastructure.

The concept could contribute approximately six to eight gigawatt hours per year of extra winter generation. It would displace between 1.6 and 2.2 million litres of diesel fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 5,600 tones a year. It would save ... up to $2.3 million per year in displaced diesel or up to $2-million annually if using a combination of LNG and diesel.
https://www.yukonenergy.ca/energy-in-yukon/our-projects-facilities/hydro-enhancement/southern-lakes-enhanced-storage-concept/

You can't realistically do that with cheap solar panels and batteries made by pollution spewing factories in Asia. That would be a foolish waste of taxpayer's money.

Up 17 Down 14

Icefog on Oct 17, 2016 at 5:15 pm

LNG is better than diesel for sure, but it is still a fossil fuel releasing greenhouse gases when burned.

Up 24 Down 28

ProScience Greenie on Oct 17, 2016 at 4:24 pm

Fair enough.
Good to see mention of streetlights but the Libs had better contact the Yukon Astronomical Society for advice before switching over to LED streetlights as some types cause more light pollution than our current types. Light pollution is not good and we have too much already so any step to reduce it is good. Nothing is more healthy for the mind, body and spirit than the fine view of our beautiful night time Yukon skies.

Up 59 Down 33

jc on Oct 17, 2016 at 4:22 pm

The retrofit and LED lighting program is already under way. And solar and wind power has already been proven unfeasible. For goodness sake just see what happened in Ontario. And they have more sunlight than Yukon. The Liberals will just saddle the taxpayers with a huge bill. And there is nothing wrong with LNG - its cheap and clean. But, oh yeah, this is election campaign time.

Up 46 Down 26

Liberals can maybe rebate some tax locally. on Oct 17, 2016 at 3:33 pm

All the goods we purchase come from the south.
Any goods coming from BC to the Yukon has gone up because of their carbon tax.
Ask truckers and processors, manufacturers and suppliers in BC and they will tell you.
So John, Sandy how are you going to rebate that situation?
Why don't you stand with all liberals, which stated they support not to tax the north.

Up 46 Down 46

Restricting LNG in the Yukon and an opportunity to sell extra energy on Oct 17, 2016 at 3:23 pm

Will kill resource development in the Yukon period. There goes the Yukon economy.
Already taking orders from Ottawa. Liberals say they consult so that means imposing taxes on them.
First Nation Communities the carbon tax is going harm your life style in the communities.

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