The tanker trucks normally come by the dozen over the winter road from Fort McMurray, Alta., during the few weeks the ice can hold their weight. They make the 4½-hour northbound trek laden with the same fossil fuel they burn—stuff that Fort Chipewyan, Alta., has long used to generate its electricity.
There are about 170 remote northern communities across Canada’s provinces and territories, the vast majority off the main power grids and reliant on diesel—a dirty, spill-prone and archaic source by 21st-century standards. Collectively, they burn through several truckloads every day. Many are going the route of Fort Chip and pursuing renewable energy alternatives, with more than a half-billion federal dollars committed to the endeavour since the Trudeau Liberals took office.
Northern leaders are also eager to contribute to the fight against climate change because their communities are particularly vulnerable to its ravages. The ice roads are a case in point, as over time their operable seasons have shortened from a few months to a few weeks. This winter, the Fort Chipewyan Winter Road opened later than scheduled, on Dec. 31, before warm weather forced it closed on Jan. 13, before the annual diesel shipment arrived.
The number of renewable energy projects across the remote North doubled between 2015 and 2020, notes a report from the Pembina Institute think tank, which has collaborated with Ottawa on off-diesel initiatives. On an annual basis, that’s reduced diesel consumption by about 12 million litres—not counting the 800,000 Fort Chip can now shed—with about 225 million to go. That’s just for electricity; the communities burn about twice as much for heating.
No there not. Most indigenous communities support the oil and gas industry, they work in it, have business that depend on it and want it to thrive.
solar panels are rough on landfill sites
What? They’re buying electric snowmobiles?
Solar power in great north 🤔
Understandable, if you don't want to die.
You ain't pullin gigawatts off that pansy stuff. Time to bring in modular nuclear reactors. You could also make water treatment plants at the same time.