‘ HYDRO • CORPORATION

Suite 206, 5102-St A ye, Vellowknife, NT XIA 3S8 Phone (867) 766-5084 Fax (867) 669-3395

Heidi Wiebe, Plan Development Lead Sahtu Land Use Planning Board P.O. Box 235 Fort Good Hope, NT XOE OHO

Via facsimile and email: (403) 984-3258 heidi.wiebe@shaw ca

February 24, 2010

Comments on Draft 2 of Sahtu Land Use Plan

In October of 2008, the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) released the Draft NWT Hydro Strategy. The draft strategy is aimed at guiding the activities of the GNWT and its hydro-oriented crown corporation, the recently created Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation (NT Hydro). NT Hydro is responsible for implementation of several key priorities identified in the draft strategy and this work includes identification of sites that may be suitable for future hydro and renewable energy development.

NT Hydro has been working with Sahtu communities, Land Corporations and other key stakeholders to discuss hydro and renewable energy technologies, different types of hydro development (e.g. run of river, mini-hydro, larger hydro) and to get input into how the region may want to move forward with hydro and renewable energy development. This work also includes identifying potential sites for collection of baseline environmental, hydrological and traditional knowledge information to characterize the hydro and renewable energy potential of the region. At this point, this information is not being collected in relation to development of a specific project but will be used to identify sites that have potential for future hydro and renewable energy development.

NT Hydro recently participated in the Sahtu Hydro Symposium that was hosted by the Deline Land Corporation on February ~ ~1~.th 2010. The symposium provided a good opportunity for all participants to share information and to discuss hydro and renewable energy technologies and their potential application in the Sahtu Region. Outcomes of the workshop included the formation of a hydro and renewable energy regional working group and holding additional workshops/meetings in Sahtu communities on hydro and renewable energy development. As this work moves forward, information relevant to the land use planning process will be provided to the Sahtu Land Use Planning Board (SLUPB) for consideration.

At the symposium, NT Hydro also presented the results of a draft assessment of the hydro potential of the Sahtu region. This assessment reviewed existing hydro studies NORTHWEST TERRITORIES HYDRO CORPORATION

and research, hydrologic and topographical information and identified sites in the region that have hydro potential. River basins identified in the region as having hydro potential include: , Camsell River, , Mountain River, Carcajou River, and the . Of particular interest from a hydro perspective are the Great Bear and Camsell Rivers as they both have favourable hydrologic and topographical conditions that are suitable for application of a variety of hydro technologies. NT Hydro notes that both of these rivers are located within Special Management Zones with the Camsell River located within the Great Bear Watershed Special Management Zone. The plan dictates that any future development would be subject to conditions as outlined for Special Management Zones. It is important that land use zoning which allows for future hydro development in these river basins is maintained so that the possibility of generating clean energy within the Sahtu region remains open. NT Hydro will forward the hydro assessment report to the SLUPB once the report is finalized.

NT Hydro wishes to highlight to the SLUPB that the inclusion of the Watershed Management Plan (GBLWMP) as a separate planning process and document creates confusion within the draft land use plan. It would be greatly beneficial if the GBLWMP and associated conditions could be harmonized into the land use plan so that there is one comprehensive land use plan for the entire region. NT Hydro understands the SLUPB has been working to resolve these issues and looks forward to reviewing future drafts in light of this issue.

We appreciate the opportunity to submit our comments at this time and look forward to providing comments on future drafts of the plan.

Yours incerely,

Peter nnie-Misgeld Mana r, Hydro Advancement “2.5.4 Power Development

Power in the Northwest Territories is generated primarily through hydro‐electric projects (75%) and diesel plants. Within the Sahtu, the four smaller communities use diesel generated power, while in , the NWT Power Corp purchases natural gas generated power from Esso to sell to the community.[1] Power can be generated from a variety of renewable and non‐ renewable resources. The following sections discuss plans and potential for other sources of power.

Hydro-Electricity

The GNWT’s 16th Legislative Assembly has set a number of energy priorities to address NWT residents’ frustration with the rising cost of energy due to heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels and exposure to world oil prices. To address these issues, the Legislative Assembly has expressed an interest in pursuing initiatives that will help reduce energy costs and advance the development of alternative energy initiatives. The GNWT has committed to reducing its dependence on imported diesel. It will focus on long‐term commitments to developing hydroelectric resources through a NWT Hydro Strategy.

The draft of the “NWT Hydro Strategy Executive Summary” was released in 2009 outlining the territory’s long‐term approach to developing hydroelectricity in the territory. The NWT has more than 11,500 megawatts of hydroelectric potential but is currently using less than 0.5% of it. Of this potential, 10,450 megawatts are associated with the Mackenzie River.[2]

The GNWT established the Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation (NT Hydro) and its subsidiary, the Northwest Territories Energy Corporation, to undertake the responsibility of implementing the actions necessary to realize its development goals. Sahdae Energy Ltd., a subsidiary of the NWT Hydro Corporation, was established with a sole purpose to pursue a hydro development project on the Great Bear River to provide power to the potential Mackenzie Valley Pipeline project.[3]

The GNWT will lend its support through the development of policy, planning and programs that will be aligned with the strategies and actions. The GNWT recognizes that its hydroelectrical development policy and regulations will have to comply with the resource management regimes created by settled land claims such as the SDMCLCA. Potential hydroelectricity transmission lines are proposed to roughly follow the Mackenzie River from up through , Norman Wells, Fort Good Hope and to Inuvik. Deline would also be connected to the lines through Tulita. Colville Lake is not currently shown as a destination for the transmission lines.

A hydrokinetic in‐stream turbine pilot project will begin operation at in the Dehcho in the summer of 2010 and other mini‐hydro and small hydro projects are at various stages of development in the NWT. The Taltson Hydro expansion project to provide power to

the diamond mines is currently in the Environmental Assessment process. Hydro For the time being, mini‐hydro projects will be considered within the NWT. They will typically generate 0.5‐ 1.0 megawatts. At least one pilot project is to take place in 2009 with more to follow. Larger scale developments in the NWT will take years to develop. The planning process is projected to take place within approximately the next 10 years.[4]

Biomass Energy

The GNWT has an approved biomass strategy in place and is working to use biomass energy in conjunction with electric co-generation. In considering alternative sources of energy production, the GNWT has has successfully implemented wood pellet technology and plans to expand its implementation. The GNWT is also investigating the potential use of locally produced biomass energy sources in the NWT tested the feasibility of using wood pellets. Wood pellets have successfully been used in boilers of the Tlicho Region. This program is to be expanded for other public facilities. A study will examine the feasibility of using wood pellet boilers in communities within the Mackenzie Valley. It will also assess opportunities for the manufacturing of pellets, availability of forest resources and evaluate the potential to develop the residential/private wood pellet market in Yellowknife.

A comprehensive Biofuels Strategy is to be completed for 2009 and a biomass electricity generation project is to be started in 2011. Two wood pellet boilers are to be installed in Chief Jimmy Bruneau School and an additional minimum of six public buildings will be equipped with wood pellet boilers by 2010.[5]”

# 20 0 250 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 km

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Installed Annual Capacity Generation Project FIGURE 1: HYDROELECTRIC ID No. Northing Easting Site Name (MW) (GWh) Ranking 1 65.021389 -124.244167 Great Bear River - Wolverine Creek HPP 236.0 1480.0 4 OPPORTUNITIES (SITES) IN THE 2 61.459167 -126.614444 Great Bear River - Wolverine Creek HPP - A 14.0 108.0 9 SAHTU REGION 3 65.040556 -124.604167 Great Bear River - St Charles Rapids 126.0 780.0 7 4 64.940833 -125.523056 Great Bear River - Lower Brackett 240.0 1505.0 5 5 Great Bear River - Option A (Sites 1, 3, 4) 602.0 3765.0 6 6 65.013889 -124.415556 Great Bear River - Head of Rapids (Upper Site) 288.0 1805.0 1 7 64.968056 -125.445833 Great Bear River - Upper Brackett 280.0 1755.0 3 8 Great Bear River - Option B (Sites 6, 7) 568.0 3560.0 2 9 64.958333 -126.077778 Mackenzie River - Norman Wells HPP 3320.0 18900.0 8 10 65.235556 -127.585556 Caracajou River-site C2 HPP 14.0 108.0 14 11 65.435556 -129.134444 Mountain River HPP 14.0 108.0 11 12 64.176944 -127.050000 Keele River HPP 14.0 108.0 12 13 63.860556 -125.515833 Redstone River HPP 14.0 108.0 10 # 14 65.610556 -117.827778 Camsell River - White Eagle Falls without Diversion 25.5 173.0 13 18 15 65.292500 -117.956111 Camsell River - Site 7 NA NA NA 16 64.480278 -116.250000 - Emile River Diversion NA NA NA 17 63.698611 -117.110278 Marion River Diversion NA NA NA SIGMA ENGINEERING LTD. 18 61.459167 -126.614444 Flat River - Upper Seaplane NA NA NA 19 63.705556 -123.883333 Mackenzie River - Johnson River GS NA NA NA Base Map: GeoGratis Vector Data Datum: NAD-1983 0 10 20 40 60 80 20 67.466667 -130.913889 Mackenzie River - Lower Ramparts NA NA NA km Projection: Lambert Conformal Conic Rev.: 01 Issued for: Discussion File Location: D:\GIS Maps\Sahtu\Sahtu_Projects01c.mxd 2009-10-09 Map Number: 03