A Northern moment: biomass as a green energy alternative (video)

Transcript

Text on screen: Across Canada's north, communities have found creative solutions to tackle climate change and clean energy.

Through the Government of Canada's Northern REACHE program, biomass is becoming a viable green energy alternative that helps communities reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

Minister of Northern Affairs Daniel Vandal and MP Michael McLeod join members of Nihtat Energy and Aurora Research Institute for a virtual tour of their biomass projects.

Hon. Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs: So to Nihtat Energy, and Grant Sullivan in particular, I salute the advances you've made to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and develop local expertise. And to Aurora Research Institute as well, I'd like to acknowledge the work being done to advance northern clean energy technology and the support to different communities. Projects like these keep investments in the North and create local jobs and that's important.

Michael McLeod, Liberal Member of Parliament, NWT: I'm very excited about some of the work that is happening. You know our government has indicated right from the get go that we wanted to get communities off diesel. So I'm very happy to see that you guys are doing some very creative stuff. I congratulate all of you.

Grant Sullivan, president, Nihtat Energy Ltd. (NEL): That's always been our approach to how do we develop these projects that are right for our community, that make sense for our community, that are actually achievable by our community, which is really important too. Like we're looking at solutions that we can own and operate and actually achieve these goals with.

Matthew Dares, manager of technology development, Aurora Research Institute (ARI): I'm excited as well to talk about biomass. I think we have a project here that I have previously described as quirky and I think really with you know the vision of many partners, including the REACHE program, we're able to bring it to production. So, it's very exciting to be here talking about it.

Stephan Bowman, manager, Northern REACHE Program: Because of their leadership, Inuvik has become a hub of clean energy activity and expertise in the North.

Text on screen: Aurora Research Institute has been leading clean energy research and providing technical expert support to communities since 2007 and the cardboard pellet mill project creates heating fuel pellets from landfill destined cardboard.

Nihtat Energy Limited is looking into a district heating system for Inuvik using biomass, and is leading clean energy development in the North.

Grant Sullivan, president, NEL: The whole motivation behind this project was how do we actually integrate biomass at a large scale to the homeowner level was what really pushed this study. It's about developing that right supply chain and making sure that infrastructure is in place to actually distribute biomass in the right, safe manner the same as the diesel fuel is being delivered now. The overall plan is how do we integrate all these different energy options to really make the best use and reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions in a small remote community. And I think Inuvik is. If we can make this happen in Inuvik, we can do this anywhere in Northern Canada.

Patrick Gall, technician, ARI: The pellets we make here carry with them an economic benefit. We've turned waste into a useful product. They also carry 2 environmental benefits. We're reducing our dependence on fossil fuel driven transport to bring in external fuel sources and we're reducing the amount of material that ends up in the local landfill.

Matthew Dares, manager of technology development, ARI: With the summer coming up the town of Inuvik has been a great partner in support of this project. They're really looking for opportunities to play a meaningful role in waste diversion projects and clean energy projects.

Grant Sullivan, president, NEL: You know, we have a bunch of institutional clients that are really interested in renewal energy. And we do have the great support of like a lot of local contractors who want to see this work done. With partnerships and the right partners in place that's how we're going to really change the dynamic of energy consumption in Inuvik.

Michael McLeod, Liberal Member of Parliament, NWT: As a government, it has to be of interest because Canada as a nation is facing 2 very pressing issues. First of all, reconciliation with Indigenous people and climate crisis. I see a lot of the communities working on energy strategies for their community. They're counting on it to create jobs, to create training. There's young people stepping into the mix that want to push it further and a lot of our elders, even though they don't really know the technical stuff they're happy because we're trying to deal with the climate changes. That they can see and they recognize.

Grant Sullivan, president, NEL: The REACHE program has been critical to our success in these programs. Like, it really has. Like, not only as a funding source, but also as a resource, getting access to networks, getting information about the technical solutions of what's out there, what's possible. It's been a really great pleasure working with the REACHE program in terms of helping us develop these projects for the North, it's been great.

Hon. Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs: I really appreciate the work you're doing. Grant's absolutely right. Often times, ideas progress, ideas get better. They just, you know you sharpen the saw as you continue moving on an initiative. So, we're all going in the right direction here.

Text on screen: Thank you to the participants:

• Hon. Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs
• Michael McLeod, MP Northwest Territories
• Stephan Bowman, Manager, Northern REACHE
• Grant Sullivan, President, Nihtat Energy Ltd.
• Matthew Dares, Manager, Technology Development, Aurora Research Institute
• Patrick Gall, Engineering and Technology Projects Technician, Aurora Research Institute

Text on screen: Canada wordmark