February 2013
3,800 - Tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions displaced annually
by addition of a third turbine to Aishihik hydro facility in Yukon
Electricity in Canada’s North
Electricity producers in Canada’s North
face many of the same challenges as
those “south of 60”, foremost is the need
for the renewal and expansion of
infrastructure. While being isolated from
the continental grid presents unique
challenges, electricity is central to many
opportunities in the North, particularly
the support of resource development.
to discuss common priorities and the
current state of the electricity sector in
Canada’s North. NWT Days is an
annual series of events connecting
Government of the Northwest Territories
(GNWT) officials with federal political
partners, senior officials and important
stakeholders to discuss common
priorities and collaboration opportunities.
CEA Appoints Toronto
Hydro Corporation
President and CEO
Anthony Haines as
Chair of the
Association
CEA is pleased to announce
the appointment of Anthony
Haines, President and CEO of
Toronto Hydro Corporation, as
Chair of the Association.
Yukon Energy and The Northwest Territories
Power Corporation are active CEA
members.
Northwest Territories (NWT)
Energy Charrette and 2013 NWT
Days in Ottawa
In November 2012, CEA President and
CEO Jim Burpee participated in the
NWT Energy Charrette in Yellowknife.
The event brings together
representatives from municipalities,
Aboriginal governments, community
groups, industry and the Territorial
government to discuss issues related to
energy supply and management in the
NWT. Mr. Burpee’s remarks focused on
the linkages between current energy
supply issues in the NWT and those in
the rest of Canada.
Click here to read the 2012 Energy
Charette Report.
As part of 2013 NWT Days in Ottawa,
on January 30, CEA’s executive team
met with Premier Robert R. McLeod, the
entire NWT Cabinet, and a delegation of
MLAs, Aboriginal and business leaders
Electricity Matters
.
CEA President and CEO Jim Burpee chats
with Algonquin Pikwakanagan Councillor
Ron Bernard at the NWT Days North Star
Gala, January 30 in Ottawa.
CEA Recommendations Included
in House Committee Report on
Resource Development in
Northern Canada
CEA recently appeared at the House of
Commons Natural Resources
Committee to address electricity sector
issues related to the Committee’s study
of resource development in Northern
Canada. Among the recommendations
included in the Committee’s final report
was a call for the federal government to
continue to reduce inefficiency,
duplication and delays in the current
regulatory process for energy projects in
the context of improving the prospects
for Northern resource development.
Mr. Haines’ career in the
Canadian energy industry
spans 25 years, including 15
years in senior roles in the
natural gas industry.
Mr. Haines has been a
member of the CEA board
since 2006 and is actively
involved with the Ontario
Coalition of Large Distributors.
He is a past board member of
the Electricity Distributors
Association. Mr. Haines serves
as the Sector Chair for the
United Way of Greater
Toronto’s public service sector
fundraising, and is actively
involved with charities
throughout Toronto.
CEA would like to thank the
outgoing Chair, Chris
Huskilson, President and CEO
of Emera Inc., for his valuable
contribution to the Association
over the past two years.
Click here to read the Committee’s
report.
© 2013 Canadian Electricity Association. All rights reserved
www.electricity.ca
2
The Electricity Generation Mix in Canada’s North
The vast majority of electricity
generation in Yukon, and a significant
portion in the Northwest Territories,
comes from hydroelectricity.
However, Nunavut relies almost
exclusively on diesel generation.
Heavy reliance on diesel in the North
has significant consequences related
to cost, reliability and the
environment. Diesel use poses a
significant energy challenge for the
North, particularly for remote
communities.
To power major resource
development projects in the North,
new and expanded electricity
infrastructure will be required. As
Canada’s North is isolated from the
North American high voltage grid,
connecting to it would require the
construction of major transmission
lines.
The barriers to infrastructure renewal
are magnified for projects in the North
due to cost and social licence as a
result of the many Aboriginal
communities whose acceptance and
participation in projects are absolutely
essential.
The three Territorial governments
have expressed a commitment to
increasing the use of renewable
resources like wind, solar and tidal
energy. While these generation
sources are an important part of the
energy mix, they are not well suited to
support major resource development
projects – a shared economic
development goal of the Territorial
governments that will require larger,
more dependable capacity.
Yukon Energy Adds More Hydro Capacity to Displace Diesel
Yukon Energy Adds Third
Turbine to Aishihik Hydro
Facility
Yukon Energy’s Aishihik hydroelectric
generating facility, in operation since
1975, was built to serve the growing
electricity demands of Whitehorse and
a large lead-zinc mine at Faro in
central Yukon. Until recently the
demands were met by two 15 MW
hydro turbines.
required during peak times of the day.
The project is expected to save Yukon
Energy $1.2 million or more per year
in diesel costs and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by an
estimated 3,800 tonnes annually.
Aishihik is the only hydroelectric
facility in Yukon that can store energy
in the summer when demand is low to
be used in the winter when demand is
high. It can also store energy during
wet years that can be used in dry
years when the levels of the lake
water are lower.
For more information, visit the Yukon
Energy website.
An interesting fact about this facility is
that it is located 110 metres
underground. It is the first
underground power plant north of the
th
60 parallel in the western world.
In 2011, Yukon Energy commissioned
the new Aishihik third turbine, a 7 MW
hydro generator that will displace
diesel that would otherwise be
Electricity Matters
Electricity Matters is a monthly
electronic publication by:
Canadian Electricity Association
350 Sparks Street, Suite 1100
Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7S8
www.electricity.ca
Yukon Energy video/YouTube: Aishihik
Third Turbine
© 2013 Canadian Electricity Association. All rights reserved
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electricitymatters@electricity.ca
www.electricity.ca