Investment fosters development of alternative energy, Aboriginal entrepreneurship

WHITEHORSE, YT, Jan. 28, 2015 /CNW/ - Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor), and Minister for the Arctic Council.

Yukon MP Ryan Leef, on behalf of Minister Aglukkaq, announced today the Government of Canada is supporting the second phase of a study focused on assessing the potential of geothermal energy development in the Ross River area by the Dena Nezziddi Development Corporation.

This investment will assist the Dena Nezziddi Development Corporation to complete a more detailed study of the location and extent of a local geothermal energy source that has the potential to be developed into a commercial scale electricity generation facility. Geothermal development could provide a less expensive local power source for the community by replacing diesel generation, as well as offering potential revenue from providing power to the Yukon energy grid.

Quick Facts

• To support this project, CanNor is making an investment of $247,310 which builds on previous CanNor funding for geological exploration in two areas of Yukon thought to potentially have near-surface geothermal resources.
• Since 2011, Kaska Fist Nation has been active in the investigation and promotion of clean energy projects within their traditional lands through their nationally owned company Kaska Energy Corporation.
• The Dena Nezziddi Development Corporation took the lead on behalf of Kaska Energy Corporation to complete the initial research on the geothermal potential in the Ross River and Watson Lake area in 2013. Dena Nezziddi is wholly owned by the Ross River Dena Council, a Kaska First Nation in southeastern Yukon.
• TheKaska Geothermal Project offers the potential for development of a much-needed energy source in southeastern Yukon. Grid loads in the area are expected to exceed capacity in the next five years as new mines such as MacTung and Selwyn are developed in Kaska territory.

Quotes

"Our Government recognizes that access to reliable and affordable energy plays an integral role in fostering northern economic development. That's why CanNor is continuing to work with its partners and stakeholders, including Aboriginal development corporations, to develop alternative sources of energy that will help meet future power needs in the North and support resource development."

Ryan Leef, Memeber of Parliament for Yukon

"The Kaska are cautiously optimistic that geothermal resources will prove to be viable near our communities. Geothermal energy is ideally suited to our northern climate and it is in keeping with our philosophies of small footprints on the land and sustainable opportunities for our people and the region. It is the Kaska vision to play a lead role in energy development within our traditional territory."

Derek Loots
President of the Kaska Energy Corporation