Federal and territorial officials joined Inuvik mayor Natasha Kulikowski to announce $40 million in funding for the Inuvik Wind Generation project. This is the first project under the Government of Canada’s new Arctic Energy Fund, which supports energy security in Northern communities.
“Investments in green infrastructure projects are not only important for our environment, but they also improve the quality of life for those working and living in the North,” said François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “I am proud to announce that the Inuvik Wind Generation project is the first infrastructure project to be funded under the Government of Canada’s Arctic Energy Fund, which supports energy security in northern communities. The Inuvik Wind Generation project will help protect our environment and provide the community with a more efficient and cleaner source of energy.”
The Inuvik Wind Generation project will develop an energy system that will include the installation of wind turbines, a grid controller and a large battery storage system to generate energy when the wind slows down. It also includes the construction of a 5-kilometre access road from Dempster Highway to the project site, and connections to the local electric grid. This project will provide a more efficient, reliable and cleaner source of energy for Inuvik residents. It will help protect the environment and lower greenhouse gas emissions by reducing diesel use.
“This announcement is one step forward towards our government’s long-term vision and approach to energy and climate change that will enable the NWT to transition to a strong, healthy economy that is less dependent on fossil fuels and we will continue to work with our partners and Canada as we aim to achieve this goal,” said Wally Schumann, Minister of Infrastructure and Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment for the Government of the Northwest Territories.
The Government of Canada is investing up to $30 million through the Investing in Canada plan – Arctic Energy Fund, and the Government of the Northwest Territories is contributing up to $10 million for the Inuvik Wind Generation project.
The Inuvik Wind Generation project is the first project announced under the Government of Canada’s Arctic Energy Fund. The fund supports energy security in communities in the North, including Indigenous communities, by investing in upgrades to existing fossil fuel-based energy systems, as well as supplementing or replacing these systems with renewable energy options—improving energy reliability and efficiency as well as reducing pollution.
