Solar projects in 5 Nunavut communities to receive federal funding
$4.1M intended to support transition to renewable energy and away from fossil fuels
Workers install solar panels on the Clyde River community hall in 2016. The federal government announced this week that Clyde River is one of five Nunavut communities that will receive money for more solar projects. (File photo)
Five Nunavut communities’ solar energy projects are set to share $4.1 million from the federal government.
The funding, announced by Northern Affairs Minister Daniel Vandal in Baker Lake Wednesday, comes from the Northern REACHE program. The REACHE program is meant to support Indigenous communities in their transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies.
The money will be divided as follows:
- Arctic Bay — $780,000;
- Clyde River — $766,700;
- Pond Inlet — $1,000,000;
- Whale Cove – $754,592; and
- Grise Fiord Solar – $807,000.
“These five Inuit communities are among a growing list who are leading the way in the energy transition,” Vandal said in a news release.
“We’re proud to support these projects led by the North, for the North.”
Representatives from all five communities were quoted in the news release welcoming the announcement.
Grise Fiord Mayor Meeka Kiguktak said her hamlet is “extremely pleased” for her community to be included.
“The community, as the northernmost fully inhabited population in North America, is keen to take advantage of energy savings and reduced emissions that will create a revenue stream and a sustainable economic future,” she said.
Jerry Natanine, Clyde River’s senior administrative officer, said the money will go toward installing solar panels to run the arena and community hall.
“Federal support for Clyde River’s installation of solar panels means we will be reducing diesel fuel use, easing tensions on the utility’s engines, reducing carbon emissions, and reducing the cost of energy for the municipality,” Natanine said.
“This funding is extremely great news for the people of Clyde River, Nunavut, and we appreciate the federal government for supporting small communities.”
WHY would we want to move away from fossil-fuel usage in these communities when the infrastructure is in place for efficient fossil-fuel usage?
Surely you are aware of the tons of carbon dioxide produced by diesels generators and the impact it has on climate! .
How are the other communities that got the Solar panels in previous years doing with them? how much are they producing and saving the communities?
The ones shown in the picture in clyde river are all smashed up by kids throwing rocks at them. They havent worked in years.
Whale Cove never learns how to use their stuff properly, should’ve given it to a better suited community. Waste of money.
Those statements were probably written by outside stakeholders pushing the projects. They sound canned and like they were written by a PR company. Hope the project works well though! Sounds like an uphill battle just preventing them from being vandalized.