Merci, Monsieur le President. The GNWT has set a target of reducing its GHG emissions by 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. As we know, the NWT is heavily dependent on burning nonrenewable fossil fuels to meet our transportation, space heating, and other needs. Switching to a renewablysourced liquid fuel is an obvious way to lower our greenhouse gas output and, with it, our contribution to climate change. That’s a key part of the plan that the Yukon government has developed.
Investigating those possibilities prompted the GNWT to commission a report by the Saskatchewan Research Council on biofuel substitution that was carried out in three phases.
The first phase, the council identified petroleum fuel demand and required specifications, possible sources for biofuel supplies, and explored processes and feedstocks for producing biofuels for use in the NWT. In the second phase, the potential greenhouse gas emission reductions and costs of three biofueluse scenarios were explored. Finally, uses in other jurisdictions were investigated and the steps required to implement a pilot project in the Northwest Territories were identified.
The study concluded that although there is a significant potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through biofuels, availability and performance in Arctic conditions are an issue. But, if renewable diesel is technically feasible, it could reduce GHG emissions by 541 kilotonnes at a cost of $62 million per year, more than the 517 kilotonne reduction of the entire 2030 Energy Strategy, and over twice the stated impact of Taltson Expansion at a fraction of the cost.
The federal clean fuel standard will require liquid fuel suppliers to gradually reduce the carbon intensity of the fuels they produce and are designed to support the use of renewable liquid fuels in Canada. The standard could be used to encourage the production of Arcticgrade renewable diesel by providing extra incentives.
So where do we go from here, Mr. Speaker?
The GNWT study recommends two actions. First, a pilot during the summer months to confirm that equipment and infrastructure are compatible with renewable diesel blends. And second, a cold weather test of the performance of diesel fuels. I'll have questions for the Minister of Infrastructure later today on next steps in testing biofuels in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Frame Lake. Members' statements. Member for Yellowknife South.
