The final draft of the Energy Strategy for the Yukon has been released, covering a swath of topics from independent power producers to the potential for locally-refined oil.

It cautions future policy makers to ensure a full public review of any move into the area of using energy sources like nuclear and coal bed methane.

The 28-page strategy calls for a 20 per cent increase in energy efficiency in the Yukon by 2020, along with a 20 per cent increase over the same period in the use of renewable energy sources.

Attention should be paid for the potential of taking Yukon communities off diesel generation where alternate renewable energy sources are available, the document recommends.

Brad Cathers, minister of Energy Mines and Resources, called the strategy a reflection of what Yukoners have identified as their priorities or at least issues that shouldn't be forgotten about.

There are no plans for an industrial plant in northern Yukon to liquify natural gas for shipment to southern Yukon or beyond, though it's mentioned in the strategy as something to consider, the minister pointed out Friday afternoon.

Cathers said the key objectives of the strategy are increasing reliability of the Yukon's energy supply, expanding the energy supply, and using hydro and other renewable energy sourced to create the increased supply.

The strategy, for example, recommends the government take the lead in exploring the use of heat pumps and other alternative technologies to heat Yukon homes.

Cathers said the strategy doesn't mandate government action in different areas, but does provide insight into what Yukoners are looking for, and could very well lead to specific initiatives like examining the use of heat pumps in the North.

The expanded use of wood heat and biomass energy is also recommended.

"There is the potential for some of that to be examined to help meet the Yukon energy and electricity needs," said the Energy minister.

Development of the strategy began with public meetings and consultation in 2007, which led to the release of the draft strategy last spring.

"The Yukon government will encourage high efficiency stoves such as pellet stoves for home heating," says the strategy. "Wood boilers are used in Yukon communities to heat institutional buildings and provide district heating for multiple buildings.

"The Yukon government will support a pilot project to test the feasibility of a new wood heating system for Yukon government buildings," the strategy recommends.

It also recommends increased support for the agricultural industry, as a means of promoting locally grown products and reducing energy costs associated with transporting goods into the territory.

Statistics provided in the strategy indicate the transportation sector was responsible for consuming approximately 39 per cent of all energy used in the Yukon in 2005, excluding wood.

Cathers said promoting the involvement of independent power producers, right down to small homes which generate more electricity than they consume through wind or solar, is identified as a priority, and is actively being worked on by his department.

Alaska, he said, has been successful in its independent power program.

"They have moved a number of communities off diesel generation by encouraging small scale investment into hydro initiatives by independent power producers," Cathers said.

The minister said there is nothing right now that would prohibit independent producers from tying into the grid, though his department is currently developing a policy that will clarify the ground rules and opportunities.

Anne Middler, an energy co-ordinator with the Yukon Conservation Society, said promoting the involvement of independent producers is a good thing, provided they are limited to renewable energy sources like wind and solar.

"There is some good stuff in there," Middler said of the Energy Strategy for the Yukon. "But unfortunately there is also some serious contradictions."

The strategy, for instance, focuses on energy efficiency and conservation, she said.

Middler said the reference to making demand side management more of a priority is encouraging, as it goes to maximizing efficiency of the existing system.

On the other hand, the strategy recommends efforts to stimulate private-sector investment into the oil and gas sector, and calls upon increased effort to train Yukoners for work in that industry, she said.

Middler pointed out the very first principle outlined in the strategy is sustainability.

The use of oil and gas, she emphasized, is not sustainable.

She said it's been said the energy strategy is meant to dovetail with the government climate change action plan, expected later this year.

The conservation society, she said, has been told the pending action plan will leave the responsibility for setting air emissions standards in the Yukon up to the federal government, which isn't a surprise, given the promotion of oil and gas in the energy strategy.

Other jurisdictions in Canada, she said, have set their own goals for air emissions.

While the strategy rightfully recommends full public consultation before any use of coal bed methane, coal and nuclear as energy sources, the government should go a bit further in that area, she said.

Middler said the Yukon should be examining whether companies should even be allowed to explore for uranium, given the potential danger associated with uranium mining, period.

Cathers said the government is not going to go down that road.

"But we have heard very clearly that Yukon citizens have real questions and a divergence of opinions on whether some of the more controversial energy sources such as coal bed methane and nuclear power should be allowed in the territory."