The Yukon Energy Corporation won’t keep Marsh Lake at its high water mark into the fall.
In its 20-year resource plan released in June, Yukon Energy proposed holding back between 15 centimetres and 30 centimetres of water at the Marsh Lake dam south of Whitehorse to produce an additional 1.6 megawatts of power during the winter months, when energy demand typically spike.
“Local residents are deeply concerned that this project could cause, among other things, major shoreline erosion,” Yukon Energy president David Morrison said in a release.
“Until we can find ways of addressing this and other issues, it doesn’t make sense for us to proceed further.
“We will instead look at other options for generating additional energy.”
That includes building a third turbine at Aishihik Lake for $7 million and overhauling three diesel engines in Whitehorse for $6.3 million.
And Yukon Energy’s most expensive proposal is to link the southern power grid, that connects hydroelectric generators at Whitehorse, Aishihik and Faro, and the northern grid between Mayo and Dawson City, with a 178-kilometre transmission line between Carmacks and Stewart Crossing, estimated to cost $32 million.
The Yukon Utilities Board will begin considering Yukon Energy’s 20-year plan at public hearings in Whitehorse next week. (GM)