Thank you, Madam Speaker. Arctic Energy Alliance 25th Anniversary. Madam Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories is committed to increasing the use of alternative and renewable energy, stabilizing the cost of power, and supporting national and global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There are projects and initiatives the GNWT is leading that will help us meet these objectives, like the proposed Fort Providence to Kakisa transmission line and our efforts to make biomass the main heating source for GNWT buildings.
We also need action at the community level. That means residents, businesses, and communities across the territory taking steps to reduce their own energy costs and increase the use of alternative and renewable energy in their homes and office building.
Madam Speaker, for 25 years the Arctic Energy Alliance has been providing that support at the community level. The Arctic Energy Alliance is a nonprofit society, which is funded by the GNWT, dedicated to reducing the costs and climate impacts of energy use in the Northwest Territories by providing programs and services. Madam Speaker, back in 1997, when the organization was created, their primary focus was to be able to provide energy education and awareness, energy audits for buildings, and renewable energy initiatives. The Arctic Energy Alliance continues to deliver these programs and has broadened their suite of programs and services over the past 25 years. The organization now provides even more options for residents, businesses and communities to save on energy costs and become more energy efficient.
The organization has offices in all six regions here in the Northwest Territories. This allows the Arctic Energy Alliance to maintain a close connection to communities throughout the NWT and establish important relationships and partnerships at the community level.
Madam Speaker, this work is having a positive impact. Since 2011, the Arctic Energy Alliance’s building energy retrofit programs have resulted in combined annual savings of $2.4 million in energy costs. The Alliance is also a key organization in helping communities develop energy planning in the NWT.
In 2020, the organization launched a pilot Electric Vehicle Rebate Program to help residents in hydro zones reduce the cost of transportation. In 20212022, the Arctic Energy Alliance invested approximately $5 million into various programs and services. Of this $5 million, $2.7 million is core funding provided by the GNWT and $1.7 million is provided through our agreement with Canada for the Low Carbon Economy Leadership Fund. While this agreement is set to expire at the end of the 20232024 fiscal year, talks have already commenced with Environment and Climate Change Canada to renew this important funding. The remaining $0.6 million comes from various sources, including AEA membership as well as onetime GNWT funding. This investment resulted in significant dividends for the territory; 2,802 incentives given out, representing $1.8 million in direct savings for residents. This investment supported small communities, Madam Speaker, with over half the funding going to communities outside of Yellowknife. This also translated into greenhouse gas emission reductions of 1 kilotonne for the NWT the equivalent of converting a third of the power generation for Tuktoyaktuk to renewable electricity, and 1,800 megawatt hours in energy savings.
Madam Speaker, in 2018 the GNWT released the 2030 Energy Strategy, our longterm approach in supporting secure, affordable and sustainable energy in the NWT. The Arctic Energy Alliance’s programs and services are central to meeting our objectives of increasing the share of renewable heat in buildings to 40 percent and increasing energy efficiency by 15 percent by 2030.
Congratulations to the Arctic Energy Alliance on a quarter century of providing important energy programs and services in the NWT. I look forward to what the next 25 years will bring to the organization here in the Northwest Territories. Quyananni.
Thank you, Minister. Ministers' statements. Minister for Environment and Natural Resources.
