Yukon parties lay out plans for renewable energy

The first full week of the Yukon election campaign ended with thethree major parties making promisesabout renewable energy, and the Yukon Party again warning against the other parties' plans fora burdensome carbon tax.

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Yukon Party leader Darrell Pasloski, speaking at Jack Hulland School in Whitehorse on Friday, promised a "made-in-Yukon" approach to greenhouse gas emissions. Part of that will involve $47 million worth of energy upgrades at 20 Yukon schools.

"It's going to put a number of Yukoners to work, it's going to reduce our emissions, and it's going to reduce the amount of fuel that these buildings need to stay warm, and keep our kids warm," Pasloski said."And the best partof this plan is, no carbon tax."

"The Liberalsand the NDPwant to impose a new tax on Yukoners."

The Yukon Party plan would see retrofits and upgrades such as better insulation, high-efficiency windowsand lighting replacements. Schools in communities powered by diesel would see solar arrays installed.

The party estimates the retrofits would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 3,900 tons per years, representing about nine per cent of the government's annual emissions.

NDP promises $50M forrenewable energy sector

Meanwhile, the NDP was laying its own plan, at a modest bungalow in the Granger neighbourhood of Whitehorse. Media were given a map to the homewhere they found party leader Liz Hanson, flanked by two NDP election signs.

The home belongs to Don Roberts, a former cabinet minister in the Yukon's lastLiberal government,lead by Pat Duncan from 2000 to 2002.

Roberts is not running for office, but inrecent years has become well known for his environmental lobby efforts, protesting the expanded use of fossil fuels at Yukon Energy's new LNG powered electrical generating plant.

On hishome are eight solar panels.

"We're trying to save our planet ...we are doing our part," Roberts said."Hopefully this is going to be future for all of us in the Yukon."

The NDP is promising to spend$50 million over five years, to help jump start a renewable energy sector in the Yukon.

Leader Liz Hanson says helping home owners with solar panels is just one of the ways an NDP government would helpYukonersbecomegreener.

She points to ongoing solar and thermal projects by First Nations as investment opportunities.

"For $10 million a year, over fiveyears, we can help entrepreneurs, First Nation Development Corporations, and other governments finance renewable energy projects to power Yukon's future," Hanson said.

She also slammedthe Yukon Party government for missingopportunities to do more.

"Whistle Bend [subdivision] was originally designed on district heating and geothermal," Hanson recalled. "When F.H. Collins [school]was being proposed it was designed for geothermal, all the drilling was done."

Hanson says money from Ottawa's mandated carbon tax could help pay for about a third of the NDP'spromised investments.

Liberals promise energy retrofits, partnerships with First Nations

The Liberals also blasted the Yukon Party government for ignoring green energy potential, with leader Sandy Silvercallingthe decision against geothermal at the new F.H. Collins school "a great example of that."

The Liberals unveiled their energy platform on Friday as well, and like the other parties, the focus is on renewable energy. The partyfavours small hydro, wind, solar andgeothermal power.

At a news conference,MountLorne-SouthernLakes candidate JohnStreickersaida Liberal government in Yukon would devote $30 millionto retrofitting residential,commercialand government buildings, training a skilled Yukon labour force, and hiringYukon companies to do the work.

Streickersaidthe federal government could help defray the costs.

"We know the federal government is looking to support the North to transition to a sustainable energy future, and we would work directly with them to leverage funding sources," he said.

Streicker says another goal would be to find seasonal energy storage, so renewable energy collected in the summer can be used in winter.

The party is also promising to work with First Nationson energy projects.

"Respect our obligationsand our partnerships with the First Nations governmentsthis also makes good business sense," said leader Sandy Silver.

The Liberals also saythey willremove LNG projects from the Independent Power Production Policy, andwork with communities and utilities to convert all street lighting to LED.

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