The Yukon Development Corporation will submit a work plan for a new hydro power facility by mid-May, the minister responsible for the corporation told the legislative assembly on Tuesday.
“I anticipate getting it before the conclusion of the spring sitting and I will either table it or make it public at the time that I receive it,” Scott Kent said.
Kent was responding to a question from Liberal Leader Sandy Silver, who asked when the report would be ready. It originally was due mid-February, but an extension was granted.
The government has allocated $2 million for planning of the new facility in this year’s budget.
Yukon is also working with Alaska to study the possibility of linking the territory’s grid to a proposed new hydro facility near Skagway.
Skagway needs more power in the summer time, when the cruise ships are in town, while Yukon needs it in the winter when our demand for heating power exceeds our hydro capacity.
A report on that project is due by the end of the year.
Silver asked Kent when, realistically, we might see new hydro power for the Yukon.
Kent did not answer, but said the Skagway option is something the government is looking at in the medium-term, while new Yukon hydro is a long-term plan.