Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, my questions are for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation to facility alternative energy.
The Northwest Territories Power Corporation is a Crown corporation that owns and operates the Northwest Territories' hydroelectric facilities and most of the Northwest Territories' diesel power plants. NTPC is tasked to provide an essential service to Northwest Territories residents and businesses by ensuring access to reliable electricity. The Northwest Territories' energy mix includes fossil fuel, biomass, hydro, natural gas, wind and solar installations. In 25 remote communities, local grids provide dieselgenerated electricity.
The GNWT's 2030 Energy Strategy and the NTPC's strategic and capital plans focus on lowering cost of power and increasing the use of alternative and renewable energy whenever possible. Implementing the 2030 Energy Strategy is a shared responsibility between the GNWT, the NTPC, and the Arctic Energy Alliance. The NTPC commits its 20222023 Corporate Plan to increase integration of renewable technology and use of alternative fuels and achieve a 25 percent greenhouse gas emissions reduction for electricity generation in dieselpowered communities.
I submit the following questions to the Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Power Corporation:
Can the Minister explain how the NTPC will invest in alternative and renewable energy with a net debt of nearly $366 million? Will funds be available to upgrade and purchase energy efficient diesel generators for communities when the increase in net debt for the one year alone is already about $42 million?
Can the Minister provide the NTPC capital investment dollars invested on alternative and renewable energy in Northwest Territories communities, by community and contractor, and identify which of these will be impacted by sunsetting federal funds?
During the life of this Assembly, has NTPC collected and reported on performance measurement results, and if yes, have trends been observed? And Can the Minister share the results, by community?
How does the NTPC increase alternative and renewable energy in housing? For example, what is NTPC doing to work with Housing Northwest Territories developers and Indigenous business development corporations? And,
The NTPC is governed by a board of GNWT deputy ministers who are familiar with the GNWT mandate and challenges. Can the Minister describe, with examples, how the change from an independent to a GNWT constituted governance board has improved or helped the work of the NTPC and what cost savings were realized as a result?
Thank you.
