Debates of November 28, 2007 (day 4)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my question is to the Minister of industry, trade and investment, Mr. McLeod, and it’s to follow up on the renewable energy statement I made this morning. The Pembina Institute put out a report, “Five Years of Failure,” documenting how volunteer efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions does not work. It certainly didn’t work on its own; we need some regulation. I don’t believe we’ve ever required any industrial project to provide even one percent of their energy needs from renewable energy sources. This obviously is clearly way out of date. Is the Minister’s department working to begin requiring at least some amount of renewable energy development in every project the department has to do with in every development? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Bob McLeod.

Return To Question 51-16(1): Renewable Energy Development Initiatives

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the honourable Member for that question. This is an area that the government has been looking at for some time and I’m also pleased to report that in the last government there were several initiatives that were looked at in terms of energy conservation and a number of projects that were undertaken with that exact purpose in mind. I think that there have been a number of energy strategies, as well. Looking at renewable energy, part of the problem has always been that they have never been able to come up with an example or where the costs have been lower than fossil fuel costs. Similarly, one of the, I think, the Wind Energy Conference that is looking at wind energy, I guess I hope one of the things that they’ll be looking at is what do you do when the wind stops blowing and they’re relying on wind energy. But certainly I think it’s important to start looking at these alternative energies and planning ways to bring them into practice, because obviously reducing greenhouse gasses is a priority. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Bromley.

Supplementary To Question 51-16(1): Renewable Energy Development Initiatives

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, it’s this concern about costs and lack of full cost accounting that has brought us to this situation where we now have a changing climate leading to the death of millions of people around the world annually, real challenges to our food, while fossil fuel costs are soaring and so on. We need to get ahead of the game. Just on the ITI’s reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, on your recent trip to China, did the department cover carbon offset costs of that travel; something you can do with a click of a button and a fairly minor cost as a way of demonstrating your commitment to reducing climate change and greenhouse gas emissions? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 51-16(1): Renewable Energy Development Initiatives

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What the Member is referring to is a fairly new concept and part of the problem with living in the North and travelling on airplanes and other means as we do, I’m not aware of any readily available companies whereby you can take advantage of these carbon offsets. Perhaps upon further investigation I might find that it’s quite easy to buy carbon offsets at the same time as you book your ticket, but I’m not aware if it’s that readily available. I guess that’s an area that we would have to look at to see how that would fit into the policies of this government for travel purposes. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Bromley.

Supplementary To Question 51-16(1): Renewable Energy Development Initiatives

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would be happy to provide the Minister with some information on that. You can, in fact, buy it at your local travel agency as well as on the Internet.

I realize that renewable energy is new and complex. The wind does stop; the water flows seasonally and so on. Is the department, in recognition of that complexity and the need for a comprehensive approach, working to deal with those complexities right from encouraging Aurora College programs on renewable resource technology through to tying domestic systems even to the grid such as solar panels that you can mount on your home and provide energy into the grid when the sun is shining and so on? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 51-16(1): Renewable Energy Development Initiatives

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My colleague at the Department of ENR is dealing with energy conservation issues and there are a number of projects that are looking into this area. I guess the best example is the Fort Smith electrification project whereby the government is converting a number of government facilities from diesel to electric heating and power. As a government, we are getting organized so that we are better coordinated to deal in all areas of energy. It will be an area that I will be working very closely with my colleague from the Department of ENR and also the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation to ensure that we look at all of these different areas. Thank you.