new technology that is available now.”
The QC, through the QIA, is a member of
the Arctic Renewable Energy Expert Com-
mittee, an alliance of six organizations
spanning from Alaska to Iqaluit to Water-
loo, ON, whose mandate is to help bring
scalable renewable-energy pilot projects
to at least three northern communities by
2020.
“Diesel use in Arctic communities hurts
the environment and costs a lot of money,”
said Paul Crowley, the WWF’s vice presi-
dent of Arctic conservation, in a March
31 release. “It’s not just the climate and
air quality threats that we’re concerned
about, but the potential for diesel spills
when shipping the fuel north. “By switch-
ing to habitat-friendly renewable energy,
communities can become more self-reli-
ant and will be protecting marine environ-
ments and the species that depend on
them,” Crowley concludes.
Other activities such as pro-
moting a regional and com-
munity waste management
approach, researching an af-
fordable home ownership
model through community mi-
cro-manufacturing, supporting
the community of Qikiqtarjuaq
in its efforts to develop a deep
sea port, undertaking site spe-
cific studies for hydro potential
in Pangnirtung, validation of wind resourc-
es in Sanikiluaq and Iqaluit along with so-
lar and 21st Century micro-grid studies is
building our internal capacity so we can
collaborate with all Qikiqtani communities
as they contemplate their future clean en-
ergy objectives.
“We ourselves have been lobbying with
the Nunavut and Federal government and
work closely with Native groups like our-
selves,” Flaherty says. “We want to see
the gap between both groups closed, and
have Native groups be involved strategical-
ly from the very beginning of any discus-
sion on infrastructure and opportunities
on this or other initiatives. We will work to
see that happen.”
Flaherty says he will be back on a plane
tomorrow, to do just that.
DECEMBER 2017
H
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