Wekweètì’s senior administrative officer is seeking funding from both the territorial and federal governments to back a biomass district heating initiative in the community. Fred Behrens disclosed that he has identified funding opportunities from the territorial government’s GHG Grant Program and the federal government’s Build Communities Strong Fund for the project.
The plan involves establishing a heat plant near the community government office in Wekweètì, located 200 kilometers north of Yellowknife and home to around 100 residents. The facility will house three 300-kilowatt biomass boilers to distribute heat to 44 homes and 11 institutional buildings using an underground pipe network.
Behrens explained that the system would be powered by materials obtained from forest thinning and wildfire prevention activities in the area. Additionally, the biomass boilers would utilize the exhaust from the community’s diesel generators as an additional heat source.
He outlined that the biomass district heating project aims to provide heat to 95% of the community and is projected to cost between $15 million and $20 million while saving $200,000 annually in heating fuel expenses. Behrens anticipates that the heating system could be operational by 2028.
Wood pellets are not produced on a large scale in the Northwest Territories, and therefore, the community plans to use wood chips instead. Behrens mentioned that sourcing pellets from northern Alberta would not be feasible due to transportation challenges.
The initiative has received support from community members who see the benefits of utilizing wood for district heating. Benjamin Pea’a, involved in fire prevention work in the area, expressed enthusiasm for the project, emphasizing the value of utilizing materials for both energy and community benefit.
Councillor Trent Rabesca also endorsed the district heating system, highlighting the cost-saving potential for households without wood stoves.
During a presentation to the Northwest Territories’ economic development and environment committee, Behrens indicated that the project is nearly ready for implementation and is seeking capital funding. He assured that the community is committed to offering heat at a more cost-effective rate compared to traditional fuel sources.
Discussions during the committee meeting included considerations of financing options, with MLA Julian Morse suggesting the possibility of using federal infrastructure funding and user fees to cover project costs. Behrens acknowledged this as an option but noted that it would entail a significant amount of time to recoup the investment.
The project has garnered positive feedback from committee members, with Morse expressing support for the initiative and highlighting the importance of such sustainable heating projects in the Northwest Territories.
Overall, the biomass district heating project in Wekweètì aims to provide efficient and sustainable heating solutions to the community while promoting environmental stewardship and cost savings.