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LNG generators mean fracking in the Yukon

LNG generators mean fracking in the Yukon It doesn't matter how you say it or how you twist it, if Yukon Energy purchases liquefied natural gas generators, the Yukon Party government will allow fracking to take place in the Yukon. The only firm price th

It doesn’t matter how you say it or how you twist it, if Yukon Energy purchases liquefied natural gas generators, the Yukon Party government will allow fracking to take place in the Yukon.

The only firm price that Yukon Energy has for the next five years from the Shell gas plant near Calgary is a set price on the conversion of natural gas to LNG. Yukon Energy does not determine the market price of LNG, nor do they set the price on the transportation of LNG to the Yukon.

Currently North American natural gas prices are at rock bottom, but in the next few years, when LNG is exported to other countries, we will be paying the world price of natural gas, which is over $14 a unit compared to the North American price, which is now slightly over $3 a unit.

Economists are stating very loudly that the current LNG prices are not sustainable and will rise rapidly in the near future.

So my question has to be: “Why are we as Yukon ratepayers and owners of Yukon Energy accepting the decision of the chair of the Yukon Energy board, Piers McDonald, the president of Yukon Energy, David Morrison and the Yukon Party government to borrow close to $40 million to purchase LNG electric generators that in the future will cost double or quadruple to operate?

Both McDonald and Morrison have stated publicly that when the prices of LNG increases in the future, we would then try to buy LNG closer to the Yukon either from Ft. Nelson or even in the Yukon.

This means the Yukon Party government is coming through the back door to allow unconventional drilling, which means fracking and poisoning our fresh water forever.

In June 2013, Morrison was speaking to an audience in Ottawa. Posted on the YouTube QUESTtalks, Morrison clearly states: “We are converting our backup generators to LNG and we will be looking at distributing natural gas to homes in Whitehorse.” This talk took place before Yukoners were informed that Yukon Energy had selected LNG as a transition fuel.

(I would suggest that Yukoners go to the “QUESTalks” YouTube and type in David Morrison and hear for yourself what Morrison had to say about Yukon Energy.)

The Yukon Party government has not asked Yukoners if they want to spend an additional $40 million on top of the $100 million they already owe for Mayo B.

Are we going to continue to let Yukon Energy and the Yukon Party government do as they please without consulting Yukoners?

Don Roberts

Whitehorse