The clock is back on for the review of Yukon Energy's $34-million proposal to install two new back-up generators powered by natural gas next year.

The Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) halted its review on Nov. 13 after Yukon Energy submitted a change in its original proposal.

Yukon Energy was unable to secure a land lease for the railway right-of-way that it had already included in its site layout, and therefore had to redesign the site and move it close to Robert Service Way.

The board ruled the change was substantial enough that it required the public review process to start over again.

It ruled the 30-day clock on the period for public input had to be restarted when the project information was again deemed adequate.

YESAB sent out a notice last Wednesday indicating it was satisfied it had all the necessary information to restart the 30-day review period.

It also sent out a ruling that it would not extend the 30-day period to 60 days as requested because it felt 30 days are sufficient for public review on a project of that size.

The board, however, has since received more requests to extend the time line to 60 days, one of them coming from the Yukon Conservation Society.

In its request filed Friday, the society points out it's already dealing with a number of key issues, such as the application for a rate increase by Yukon Electrical Co. Ltd.

Given that December is a busy time of year with the holiday season, an extension to 60 days would be appropriate, the society writes.

The deadline for public input currently is the end of the day Dec. 20. The assessment board will be holding a public meeting on the proposal Dec. 11.

The Yukon government announced Friday it has declared the project a regulated project, which means it must also go before the Yukon Utilities Board for review.

Yukon Energy is proposing to develop a new site for the generators between the existing Whitehorse Rapids Dam facility and Robert Service Way, directly across from the old go-cart track.

The publicly owned utility is planning on trucking liquefied natural gas up from Calgary and storing it at the site, where it would be converted back to a gaseous state to power the two generating units.

The new units will replace old diesel generators at the dam which have reached the end of their life. Yukon Energy maintains the switch to natural gas will save ratepayers millions of dollars in fuel costs, and the exhaust from the engines is much cleaner than the exhaust from diesel fuel.

Many argue that switching to natural gas sets the stage to promote the controversial practice of hydraulic fracturing in the Yukon to establish a local fuel source.

Many also argue that when you consider the entire life cycle of natural gas, from drilling the hole to the burner, it's harder on the environment than burning diesel fuel.