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Applause for new next generation hydro mandate

Array

Over the past couple of weeks I have heard and seen the media coverage of the expansion of the Yukon Development Corporation’s next-generation hydro mandate. The addition of smaller and perhaps clustered hydro projects as well as consideration of power generation from wind and solar resources to the mandate is very good news indeed.

I applaud the government’s decision to expand the mandate in this manner.

Working more closely with Yukon Energy makes sense to me as the new generation projects that Yukon Energy will develop over the next 20 years has to mesh with whatever is to follow. The long term needs to build on the short term, and the long-term objectives need to influence the short-term action plan.

It is true that some people expect that non-hydro forms of energy like wind and solar will be more expensive than large hydro. However, that assumes that a large percentage of a large new hydro project gets used right from the outset. A diversified mix of smaller energy projects built as required and to suit our seasonal needs is unlikely, in my opinion, to result in higher electrical energy prices. I think it is just as likely to be cheaper.

And so I say again, good move YG.

John Maissan

Whitehorse