Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, my questions are for the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corp.
I'd like to ask the Minister how the work of NTPC is considering the operating realities in my region? We continue to focus on the Taltson Hydro Expansion but in the Beaufort Delta what are we doing to build energy security and lower cost of power? And please, Mr. Speaker, I don't want to hear about the wind project and I don't want to hear about how it's saving us 3 to $4 million in offsets to the diesel costs, you know, because we already know that project is double in costs and is far from complete and we're going to be making it up for years. So what other strategic plans are in place? Thank you.
Thank you, Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes. Minister responsible for Northwest Territories Power Corporation.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I know the Member doesn't want me to bring up the wind project, so I won't. Other than, you know, we are on target. It's, you know, a great project when it gets completed. But talking about in our region actually, Mr. Speaker, I'm the Member for Inuvik as well. So I mean, working together, we are working with the Indigenous groups trying to look at strategic ways. The Inuvialuits got the line perhaps coming in for the natural gas. That's one strategic work that we could do together. The Nihtat Band has some great opportunities for other sources of renewable energy. So we are working together in the region. Perhaps we don't have access to a hydro system that is elsewhere in the territories. But I just want the Member to know that we are having discussions. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with our governance board in place right now, I'm just wondering, like, I hear the Minister with the answers that we got but what other like, what I'm asking is what is in the Beaufort Delta, we are the highest cost of power. We use the most diesel up there to run. We don't have trees in half the region of the Beaufort Delta. Our barges don't make it in because of, you know, weather and different things so we can't get supplies up there so then we're flying stuff in. All this stuff is going to get passed down. But we have a board that's supposed to be making these strategic decisions. So what strategic decisions has this board made for my region that's going to make a big difference? Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Power Corporation, yes, we do have a board of directors, and I'm sure I'll have further questions based on all the Member's statements that was said today, so, I mean, I'm quite prepared to speak on that. In terms of dealing directly with the Member in the riding that, you know, we can further discussions and just to see if perhaps there are recommendations that the Member may have and have that discussion to see how we can collaborate and get some projects going. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd go on about net metering and I'd go on about the board, but I know my colleagues are going to ask those questions so I'm just going to continue down this path.
So has this Minister secured increased funding, or is there even talks of increased funding, to cover these overruns that the wind project is going to cost because we've already heard what they were at, about 60 to $70 million of a $40-million project. So are these costs going to passed off to residents of the Northwest Territories on their power bills? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, so we will talk about the Inuvik Wind Project now. We talk about it, we don't talk about it, yes, there's costs overruns. And I want the Member to know that, you know, I've been to Ottawa several times speaking with federal ministers in terms of green energy and how we can reduce our GHG emissions here in the territories. So that is further discussions we will have. And yes, I'm sure I'll speak more about it all afternoon today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Final supplementary. Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess my question was have we asked for money to pay for these overruns or are we passing these off to NWT residents? But, you know, I guess the final thing is, as a Member of the 19th Legislative Assembly, am I going to be able to go the celebration party of the opening of the wind turbine in Inuvik? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I hope it's blowing there too, Mr. Speaker, because, you know, there was a lot of work that was put into this Inuvik Wind Project. You know, we've secured the funding from the federal government. So I mean, we've had to go back and request further funding to be able to complete this project. Right now we have we're hoping that this fall, or to the spring of 2023 to address some of the issues. So I will give the Member enough notice so that she can come with me to the Inuvik Wind Project and have the opening. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Minister. Oral questions. Member for Yellowknife North.
