Work to connect Yukon to main North American power grid underway: MP Hanley
Yukon MP says proposed high-voltage transmission line would connect the territory to B.C.
Dana Hatherly Dana Hatherly
about 6 hours ago
Share via Text Message
power-cord-230831-wb
The end of a power cord is seen on Aug. 31, 2023.Dana Hatherly/Yukon News
Listen to this article
00:05:57
Planning to connect the isolated Yukon to the main North American grid is underway with a $40-million injection from the federal government, according to Yukon MP Brendan Hanley.
In an exclusive interview with the News ahead of the formal announcements on Sept 20, Hanley said pre-development work is happening on a 765-kilometre, 200-kv transmission line connecting the Yukon to British Columbia. He couldn't get into the technical specifics of what that entails.
Hanley noted the Yukon’s energy capacity has been an “issue.” For example, some Yukoners were just hit with a power outage on Sept. 19.
“We do have a critical need to increase our energy capacity, even for a growing population. But there is no question that there are huge advantages to have that grid connectivity as a stable and reliable energy supply,” Hanley said.
“If we look at the potential for Yukon to contribute critical minerals, to the global need for critical minerals, then one of the essential elements that we need is the energy capacity and the reliability of energy. So, you know, we can't really offer that if we have supply disruptions, local outages.”
Grid connectivity will also allow the Yukon to export surplus energy and diversify energy sources in the face of increasing climate variability, Hanley explained.
Hanley said one of the main asks from potential mining investors has been around power.
He said the proposed Casino mine will have a need for energy that’s equivalent to the Yukon’s total energy capacity, while the amount of power grid connectivity will bring could support up to 11 mining projects over time.
Hanley and Premier Ranj Pillai have been talking about grid connectivity for the past year and a half, per Hanley.
Consultation with and providing support to Indigenous communities with territories along the proposed line will start in this phase, Hanley said.
The funding will come from the pre-development stream of the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund. Hanley didn’t know the total cost of the project offhand.
“This is the fund that we've been advocating for to get started on a transmission line project to connect Yukon to the North American grid through B.C.,” Hanley said.