Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The biggest factor in cost of living and economic development is the cost and availability of energy. Yet, in terms of progressive energy policy, we are so misled by the use of fossil fuels, which are costly and cause climate change, that we are missing the boat and the world is passing us by. What we do or don’t do in energy policy and planning is pivotal to our success. Our challenges are clear: Skyrocketing cost of fossil fuels, dangerous climate changes, shrivelling community economies, fossil fuel subsidies 10 times that for renewable energy, and uncertain availability of fossil fuels. In fact, the International Energy Agency now admits peak conventional oil occurred six years ago and “current trends in energy supply and consumption are patently unsustainable economically, environmentally and socially.”
Rather than accepting a fossil fuel future, jurisdictions the world over are switching to clean, abundant renewable sources proven feasible and commercially viable. How? Their secret is a simple but fundamental shift in perspectives. More than stepping away from our oil addiction, this is a commitment, a leap towards doing things better. Rather than a burden, it’s a huge opportunity.
Astounding unforeseen successes have been achieved through both public and commercial generation of renewable energy propelled through advanced policy. One key component is a government requirement for power corporations to purchase renewable energy at a set, relatively high price, or feed-in tariff. This promotes a move from highly inefficient service focused on maximizing consumption of power based strongly on imported commercial fuel, to one focused on the most efficient use of power generated from local and non-commercial fuels. It rewrites the economics of energy reduction from top to bottom.
A second key element is a smart grid. A smart grid uses the digital technology of your iPhone or BlackBerry to measure the flow of energy in both directions, depending on whether it’s being produced or consumed. This software also adjusts our appliances and energy sources to use or sell energy at times of day when it is either cheapest or most valuable, whichever gives the greatest benefit.
Tales of successes are building daily, but we need our own story to tell. The North is ripe for this approach because our energy prices are already so high. The NWT cost of power is 70 cents per kilowatt hour and rapidly climbing.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
In contrast, jurisdictions where power rates are only 6 or 8 cents per kilowatt hour have required payments of 40 or 50 or 60 cents per kilowatt for wind, for solar, for biomass energy, and have turned their energy services around. Clearly, the potential for us to offer such prices for renewable energy and ultimately enjoy reduced costs is immediate. The annual GNWT subsidy for electricity is over $14 million, up 40 percent from 2009-10 to 2010-11 and rising. Why continue such silliness when alternatives are available?
We could choose to continue our headlong pursuit of an inefficient fossil fuel-based path, accepting the many costs while enjoying the last gurgling years of the oil bubble, or we could make the leap to proven sustainable energy systems with thriving local economies and healthy land. Like so many individuals in the North are doing, and as so many communities and jurisdictions are doing, I suspect we can see the potential and will make that big shift. Once made, the experience of others is that the benefits and realities far outweigh the estimated potential when they began.
We need an advanced energy policy that truly supports Northerners and their futures. Let’s get on with it. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
