Yukon Energy's plans for a new $42-million back-up generating plant using natural gas to power the engines was thoroughly thrashed at Monday night's public meeting.

The Yukon Utilities Board heard nothing but passionate opposition to the proposal at the meeting it hosted.

All who spoke took turns asking the board, pleading with the board, to prevent the Crown corporation from running roughshod and tying the territory's energy future to burning more fossil fuels for another 40 years.

There was little interest in technical details. Most were interested in principles, morals.

As the planet plummets closer to environmental disaster related to climate change, now is not the time to embrace more greenhouse gas emissions, the board heard repeatedly.

Many of the 18 who addressed the five members of the board and their staff cited another dire warning released earlier Monday by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The report says time has run out. Steps can still be taken to minimize the impact of climate change in the future, but they must be taken now, the report emphasizes.

The panel's observations and recommendations received worldwide attention.

The report was the front page headline on many newspapers and the lead story on radio and television news programs.

Climate change and the future of the world, the future for children today and grandchildren tomorrow are on the line, the board heard repeatedly last night.

"This is not a technician problem, this is a moral problem,” said Bob Jickling in front of some 70 members of the public at the meeting, which gathered input on the proposal from the general public.

"And if you have any concern for the future generations, then make it a moral problem.”

Jickling said when Yukon Energy talks about costs and savings associated with its project, it is a very narrow view which lacks serious foresight.

"When we talk about costs, the cost will not be borne by the ratepayers today, next year or even this decade,” he said. "In fact, when the cost is being paid, I will be dead, and so will you.

"It will be Colleen's 14 grandchildren who are going to be paying for it,” Jickling said in reference to the Carcross woman spoke before him and implored the board to step in and stop the project.

The utilities board is holding four days of hearings this week into the proposal.

The board was instructed by Justice Minister Mike Nixon to conduct an official review of the project and report its recommendations back to him no later than April 15.

The Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board has already recommended approval of the project, and the territorial government has accepted the recommendation.

The publicly own utility has so far invested close to $20 million in the proposal, including $10.9 million for two new generators powered by natural gas which had to be ordered ahead of time. It's also issued the construction contracts.

Yukon Energy wants to build the new facility between the dam and Robert Service Way, next to the railway tracks. It's planning on having the facility operational early in 2015.

The Crown corporation says the two oldest diesel generators at the Whitehorse Rapids Dam are in desperate need of replacement. They're old, they leak oil like a sieve and only start 50 per cent of the time when needed, the board has heard.

Going with natural gas instead of new diesel generators means cleaner exhaust emissions and huge savings for ratepayers in fuel costs, Yukon Energy maintains.

Yukon Energy president David Morrison told the board back-up generating capacity needs to be reliable, and available at the flick of the switch should the grid encounter a problem.

Wind and small hydro projects do not provide that reliability, he said, adding the only option to natural gas is going with new diesels but that would cost almost as much with no advantage of savings in fuel costs, he told the board.

The hearings began Monday, with Yukon Energy making an opening statement and then defending its proposal as the official interveners drilled into the project details.

There were questions on everything from supply contracts to the design of the transport trailer Yukon Energy wants fabricated for shipping its liquefied natural gas from outside Vancouver to the Yukon.

Cross-examination continued this morning, though the atmosphere became somewhat testy over proper procedures as the lawyer representing the Yukon Conservation Society began questioning Yukon Energy's forecast of future prices for natural gas.

There were some project-specific questions and observations last night.

The assertion by Yukon Energy that natural gas is cleaner was smacked down by stern assertions that evidence is showing natural gas is much harder on the atmosphere given the amount of methane leakage that occurs in the full life cycle – from the well to the burner.

Then there's the whole other matter of fracking and its toxic impact on the environment, some presenters pointed out to the board.

Some said Yukon Energy is way off the mark in its forecast for the future price of natural gas and the amount of money the conversion will save.

Evidence suggests once North America completes its transition to the world market with its many plans to export LNG, the price for natural gas will skyrocket, the board heard.

But most of all last night, presenter after presenter emphasized the pressing need to get off fossil fuels for the sake of the future.

They emphasized the need for Yukon Energy to pursue renewable energy options, not lock the territory into another 40 years of fossil fuel dependency with its new plant.

Carcross resident Colleen James told the board she is a mother and grandmother of 14 children.

There is a relationship between all life on Earth, she told the board.

She said the importance of that relationship has been lost, and needs to be found.

Already, she said, the bees are in trouble. Songbirds are disappearing.

James said we are all one, made of the same stuff, and we all have an obligation to leave clean water and clean land for future generations.

Yukon Energy's proposal does not do that, she suggested.

James implored members of the board to say no to Yukon Energy and the government, so that more options can be explored.

"Let's take our time on behalf of life on this planet and future generations,” James pleaded. "We can take the time.”

She said if Yukoners are to spend $40 million, it should be spent for the benefit and not detriment for those future generations.

This is not just an issue for the territory, said Ken De La Barre, who went on to explain to members of the board how he spent the morning listening to the alarming report issued by the United Nations' climate change panel.

He said decisions made here will impact the world, and the reputation of the Yukon.

Going back to the early 1990s, he pointed out, the Yukon was leading the country in the early development of wind generation with its Haeckel Hill facility.

Today, it's dead last, De La Barre said.

He said one has to wonder whether the $40 million proposal for 40 years of future energy production will end up being a big white elephant in 10 years' time.

"Use that money to help, not make things worse,” Mary Amerongen told the board. "We do not have to be the lemmings going over the cliff.

"Turning around is possible, and I invite you to help make that possible.”

Biologist Jennifer Line said the impact of climate change can already be seen right across the Yukon. Herschel Island is sloughing away because of changes in the Beaufort Sea patterns caused by the increased melt of Arctic ice, she said.

Line said pothole lakes on the Old Crow Flats are disappearing because of the permafrost that serves as a plug to hold the water in is melting.

Plant growth in the alpine is changing, mountains are losing their glaciers.

Climate change has enabled the spruce beetle to ravage the forest of the Kluane region because winters are no longer cold enough to kill them, she said.

"Most people in this room have children or nieces or nephews, and the decision we make is going to impact those kids in the future,” said Line.

She said Yukoners can always blame somebody somewhere for climate change.

"But is that what you want to do for the children of the Yukon? I think they deserve a greater legacy.”

Line said green technology for the production of energy is readily available, and advanced.

The Yukon Energy president was not present last night.

Piers McDonald, chair of the board for Yukon Energy, was there.