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NDP slams Yukon Energy secrecy

Yukon Energy's new wind-farm study belongs to the public, says the NDP's Steve Cardiff.

Yukon Energy’s new wind-farm study belongs to the public, says the NDP’s Steve Cardiff.

He’s miffed by president David Morrison’s refusal to share the report, which examines the feasibility of building a slew of wind-powered turbines on Mount Sumanik near Whitehorse.

“I think it is anti-democratic for him to claim they are ‘proprietary,’ especially when it is the Yukon people who are the shareholders and stakeholders in the YEC,” Cardiff said in a release.

Geological surveys conducted by the territorial and federal governments are publicly available in order to encourage mining exploration, Cardiff notes. He says the wind-farm study is no different, especially when Yukon Energy has no immediate plans to act on the plans.

“If a local individual or company wants to develop a wind farm, and the proposal meets all the criteria of a progressive and comprehensive independent power production policy developed with the input of the Yukon people, they should have access to any studies done by the YEC,” said Cardiff.

A 20-megawatt wind-farm could be built for “considerably less” than the $120-million expansion of the Mayo hydro project, said Cardiff. Mayo B is expected to yield about eight megawatts.

“If this is true,” said Cardiff, “I think the Yukon people deserve to know the facts.” (John Thompson)