Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My questions today are for the Minister responsible for the Power Corporation. I’d like to ask him what the current negotiations are with some of the potentials that affect the Hay River area such as companies as Avalon and Tamerlane, a couple of mining companies.
Thank you, Mr. Bouchard. The honourable Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation, Mr. Miltenberger.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This issue has been discussed around the Cabinet table. As well, the Power Corp has had discussions about what may be possible among its board members and within the corporation. As well, there have been some discussions with the proponents of these various projects about the need for affordable energy and power, how critical that could be and what’s possible, especially looking at the area by the Buffalo Junction where some of the proposed sites are. Thank you.
My next question is concerning some of the potential high demand for some of that power and is there any potential for the expansion of the Taltson hydro system.
There is significant potential. We’ve spent, over the last Assembly and before, about $13 million doing all the technical work, getting all the permitting and environmental work done when we initially contemplated going up to the diamond mines. That has not proven feasible, so now we are looking at options both north and south with grid connections with putting the power into the communities, a possible hookup to Yellowknife. The Member has mentioned two potential mine projects that could put that power to use. We know that the Taltson has up to about 200 megawatts of power if fully put to use. Thank you.
I think the Minister kind of indicated a little bit about this, but my question is: Is there still consideration to build a transmission line south to Alberta or Saskatchewan to allow us to sell some of our power during peak demands in their areas and actually buy cheaper power when the demands are lower at different times of the day?
That is an option that is currently under consideration. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Your final, short supplementary, Mr. Bouchard.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My final question is about the potential of biomass and the generation of power through biomass, both buying power from maybe a provider or supplementing some of the high costs up north, generating power maybe through biomass. Has the Power Corporation investigated this potential and where are they currently at with that?
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has done a significant amount of work on the whole area of biomass and released a Biomass Strategy. We have invested significantly as a government in converting buildings. We are talking to a proponent now, currently, who has some very ambitious plans to look at a pellet plant in the North that would bring value-added industries into the North for the provision of biomass. NTPC itself is going to be looking at the possibilities in some of the smaller communities to try to look at replacement of diesel. As well, as we consider the circumstances in Inuvik, that is as well one of the options being considered. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
