Yukon softens push for big new hydro dam

The Yukon government has bowed to public pressure in its efforts to find new sources of power for the territory.

Instead of just looking for one site to build a major new power dam, the government will now also look intoalternative sources of power, such as wind or solar.

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"Based on what we heard from First Nations, from stakeholders, and fromthe general public, this process has evolved," said Brad Cathers,the minister responsible for the YukonDevelopment Corporation and Yukon Energy.

Last year, the territory's "Next Generation Hydro" initiative came up with a list of six possible dam sites, designed to generate anywhere from 14 to 300 megawatts of power. The goal is to meet Yukon's power needs for at least the next 50 years.

All sixsites are in the Stewart,PellyandLiardriver watersheds. They wouldall generate at least 54 megawatts of power and have capital costs ranging from under $1 billionto almost $3 billion.

Yukoners want more options

Cathers says public feedback on those six sites made it clear that Yukonersweren't satisfied. They wanted more options explored, including smaller-scale hydroelectric projects andother forms of renewable energy.

"All energy sources are options for Yukoners to choose from," Cathers said, but added that people should understand "the potential rate impact" of each option.

That's something that will be done as part of the ongoing project.

"We believe it's important for the Yukon Governmentand the boards of Yukon Develop [Corporation]and Yukon Energybut most importantly,the general public to understand the costs of the various energy choices for Yukon's long term needs," Cathers said.

"Our view is that hydro will still likely be an important part of the energy choices made by Yukoners for the future."

The Yukon Development Corporation will ultimatelymake a recommendation to cabinetof one or more potential projects.Construction ofadam wouldn'tbegin for at least a decade.