The territorial government has made big advancements in reducing reliance on fossil fuels and ensuring affordable and secure energy for Northerners, according to the GNWT's annual Climate Action Report for 2024 as well as its Energy Initiatives Report, both released earlier this month.
One highlight is the establishment of a fast-charging corridor around Great Slave Lake that enables "affordable" electric vehicle travel between hydroelectric-powered communities.
Only about 0.1 per cent of the NWT's total number of vehicles are fully electric, however.
At the time SA国际影视传媒 found out about that figure, it also discovered that the the Department of Infrastructure doesn't know how many charging stations exist in the territory.
"It is difficult to say how many charging stations there are in the NWT, as most charging points are in people's homes and places of work, which the GNWT does not oversee," a statement from the department reads. "However, we anticipate that this is where most charging activity happens."
According to the Energy Initiatives Report, NT Energy, a subsidiary of the NWT Power Corporation, received a little more than $1 million during the last fiscal year to install a charging station in each of Fort Smith, Hay River and at the intersection of highway 6, which leads to Fort Resolution.
There's also a charging station being built in Behchoko, which is expected to cost approximately $500,000. It was approved in the 2022-2023 fiscal year and its development is still ongoing.
In total, the GNWT reports that it, alongside its partners, invested nearly $32 million in 2023-2024 in support of various energy projects and initiatives across the territory.
Heating oil remains steadfast as the most relied-upon heating source in the territory. In 2023-2024, heating oil and propane made up 44 per cent of the 415,827 GJ of energy needed for heating in the NWT. Meanwhile, wood pellets comprised 33 per cent and natural gas stood at 22 per cent. Electricity and residual heat made up one per cent of that figure.
GNWT buildings mainly rely on fossil fuels too. In that same time frame, heating oil and propane and natural gas made up more than 60 per cent of the 29,410 tonnes of greenhouse gasses needed to heat those government buildings. The rest was done with fossil electricity.
"The GNWT is committed to a resilient, sustainable energy future that prioritizes affordability and environmental stewardship for all Northerners," Infrastructure and Finance Minister Caroline Wawzonek stated. She also cited Arctic Energy Alliance programs, the Inuvik wind turbine and the expansion of hydroelectricity grids as other highlights.
Both reports cover the period of April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024.
