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Gjoa Haven’s Nattilik Heritage Centre is one of the sites that will benefit from government funding to promote clean energy projects. (FILE PHOTO)

Clean energy projects in Nunavut, Nunavik receive $1.6M

Natural Resources funding part of initiative aimed at reducing dependence on diesel fuel

By Nunatsiaq News

Four Inuit-led clean energy projects in Nunavut and one in Nunavik will each receive $1.6 million in funding from the Department of Natural Resources.

The money comes as part of $21.6 million announced Wednesday by Yvonne Jones, parliamentary secretary to the federal minister of natural resources, for 14 Indigenous-led clean energy projects.

The winning communities had submitted proposals to the Impact Canada Indigenous Off-Diesel Initiative, a three-year federal program that invests in energy projects in rural and remote communities to reduce dependence on diesel fuel.

The programs receiving money include:

  • Community-wide home retrofit development and implementation in Kugaaruk, which aims to help community members complete energy retrofits in their homes and promote the installation of small-scale solar panel systems within the residential sector. The project will also install solar panels on the wellness centre, business development centre and the Kugaaruk arena;
  • Coral Harbour and Naujaat solar and energy storage project, which will develop two utility-scale solar and energy storage projects in each community and support an LED lighting campaign, a building and audit retrofit program and a biomass pilot project;
  • Gjoa Haven clean energy, where money will be used to install energy-efficient measures in all residential homes, install solar panels on cabins, promote heat pump dryers and a renewable energy powered community freezer. Money will also be used to install solar panels on the community hall and heritage centre;
  • Baker Lake will get money to build high-performance, energy-efficient residential and commercial buildings in the community, which will include rooftop solar panels;
  • Kuujjuaq will get funding toward a rooftop solar project and a geothermal heating project at the community arena, a feasibility study to assess the potential of additional community-scale green energy projects, the installation of two electric vehicle charging stations, and installing solar powered energy systems for cabins.

“Local leadership is the key to building a clean and resilient future. These energy champions … are all leaders in their communities, and I commend them for their work,” said Jones.

Additional Indigenous-led clean energy projects will be funded in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

Kitikmeot Community Futures Inc., Job Opportunity – Executive Director

According to the Impact Canada website, participating communities will share the results of their projects next spring.

 

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(1) Comment:

  1. Posted by Matna! on

    Big thank you to Yvonne Jones! Nunavut appreciates you

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