The governments of Canada and Northwest Territories invest in upgrades at the Snare Forks Hydroelectric Facility, providing clean energy for the North Slave Region

YELLOWKNIFE, Nov. 14, 2018 /CNW/ - The governments of Canada and the Northwest Territories are investing in green infrastructure projects to safeguard the environment, grow the economy and improve the quality of life for those living and working in the North.

Today, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable Wally Schumann, Minister of Infrastructure and Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment; the Honourable Robert C. McLeod, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Minister of Finance and Minister of the Northwest Territories Power Corporation; and Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories, announced $24.6 million in funding for turbine and generator upgrades at the Snare Forks Hydroelectric Facility located on the Snare River.

The Snare Forks Hydroelectric Facility, located 140 kilometres northwest of Yellowknife, handles energy load swings and storage for the Snare Forks Power System, which includes four separate hydro plants. This system serves four nearby communities in the North Slave Region – Yellowknife, Behchokǫ̀, Detah, and Ndilǫ. These upgrades will generate cleaner energy and help prevent unscheduled shutdowns, which means less diesel will be used.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada is committed to investing in infrastructure that helps build cleaner, stronger communities that have access to the services they need. The upgrades at the Snare Forks Hydroelectric Facility will produce more efficient, reliable and clean energy, safeguarding the environment and the well-being of northerners in the area. These kinds of projects create sustainable communities and ensure quality of life for generations to come."

The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"This announcement demonstrates the GNWT's ongoing efforts to maintain strong partnerships with the Government of Canada as we work to invest in and set the stage for the next generation, by providing pre-construction funding to connect our islanded hydro systems, to build climate change resilience, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and drive the clean growth economy."

The Honourable Wally Schumann Minister of Infrastructure and Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment

"By working with Canada and our other partners on projects such as this, the GNWT can transition the NWT to a lower carbon economy, build a sustainable energy system and strengthen our understanding of the short-term and long-term effects of climate change."

The Honourable Robert C. McLeod, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Minister of Finance and Minister of Northwest Territories Power Corporation

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada is investing up to $14.1 million through the Investing in Canada plan, and the Government of the Northwest Territories is contributing up to $10.5 million.
• Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada will invest more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities.
• $26.9 billion of this funding will support green infrastructure projects, including $5 billion that will be available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
• $2 billion of this funding will support infrastructure projects that meet the unique needs of rural and northern communities like facilities to support food security, local access roads and enhanced broadband connectivity. In addition, $400 million will be delivered through the Arctic Energy Fund to advance energy security in the territories.
• $4 billion of this funding will support infrastructure projects in Indigenous communities.

Associated links

Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html

Investing in Canada Plan Project Map:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map

Federal infrastructure investments in Northwest Territories:
http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map-carte/nt-eng.html

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SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

Ann-Clara Vaillancourt, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, 613-697-3778, [email protected]; Department of Infrastructure Communications, Government of the Northwest Territories, 867-767-9082 (extension 31046), Email: [email protected], Twitter: @GNWT_INF; Media Relations, Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected]

Related Links

http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/