November 21, 2012 – Two new GNWT strategies aim to increase the use of biomass and solar energy in the Northwest Territories.

“We are looking at all the ways we can minimize our costs and reliance on fossil fuels in the long term,” said Michael Miltenberger, minister of environment and natural resources. “The Biomass Energy Strategy and the Solar Energy Strategy outline actions to further establish these renewable energy technologies as an integral part of the NWT energy mix.”

The NWT Biomass Energy Strategy 2012-2015 supports the development of sustainable local forest industries and the expansion of biomass energy systems, plus the creation of economic and employment benefits to communities. The NWT Solar Energy Strategy 2012-2017, meantime, outlines the steps and actions needed to help residents, communities, and business and industry take advantage of solar energy opportunities during the next five years by:

• increasing education and awareness of available technologies;
• developing policies and guidelines to increase the use of solar energy technologies;
• helping public power utility companies to use advanced solar-diesel hybrid systems;
• promoting the use of battery-based solar charging systems in remote off-grid applications; and
• increasing the monitoring of systems to measure and assess performance.

“Both these strategies are designed to help the Northwest Territories meet the challenge of ensuring access to clean, reliable energy,” added Miltenberger. “Local and renewable sources are a logical choice, but further development requires buy-in from all partners, including residents, communities, businesses and industry.”

Both strategies are available online at http://www.nwtclimatechange.ca