In Old Crow, Yukon, Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister for PrairiesCan and Minister for CanNor, and Dr Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for Yukon, met with the Vuntut Gwitchin Government (VGG), on Sree Vyàa (Old Crow Solar Project) to announce funding for two additional projects.

Since Old Crow flipped the switch on a 940-kilowatt solar array and 616-kilowatt battery energy storage system last summer, Sree Vyàa has reduced the community’s use of diesel for electricity, while creating training and skills opportunities for residents and generating income that can be invested in future clean energy initiatives and other community priorities.

“Much like the blueberries growing around Sree Vyàa, the solar panels converts the energy of the sun into a local, renewable energy source for our community. The Old Crow Solar Project is a constant inspiration to our nation as we continue on our path to carbon neutrality. The project is a concrete example of what we can accomplish when we work together to meet shared climate goals. We look forward to continuing this important collaboration with the Government of Canada,” says Chief Dana Tizya-Tramm, Vuntut Gwitchin Government.

Sree Vyàa is an integral piece of Old Crow’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2030 and is the largest solar energy project of its kind in a remote Yukon community.

During his visit, Minister Vandal announced an investment of over$400,000 through the Northern REACHE Program for the Old Crow Wind Project. Funding will support VGG in installing a metrological tower on Crow Mountain to assess the existing wind resources, which will determine the technical and financial feasibility of a wind project. Installation of the tower will take a low-impact approach, using local labour over heavy equipment.

While in the community, Minister Vandal also met with Porcupine Enterprises LP., a civil construction company linked to VGG, to announce CanNor funding of over $2 million, to support the design and build of the community’s first-ever Mechanical Facility. This two-year project will create capacity within the community to repair and maintain equipment such as snow machines, ATVs and the community school bus. This will reduce costs for businesses and residents, and it will enable local apprenticeship training in coordination with Yukon University’s red-seal apprenticeship programs.

Both of these community-led projects build from the momentum of Sree Vyàa by “creating good local jobs, broadening options for renewable resource use, and creating opportunities to develop local skills and experience,” reads a joint statement.