ARVIAT, September 18, 2017 – The Hamlet of Arviat, Nunavut is pleased to announce it has partnered with clean energy developer NRStor Remote Communities for the purpose of developing a comprehensive clean energy solution that significantly reduces the amount of diesel fuel required to power the community.
“The Hamlet of Arviat is convinced of the many benefits that a renewable energy system will provide our community. In addition to reducing environmental impacts, this project will allow us to own our own energy system and will provide a long-term revenue stream into our community,” stated Bob Leonard, Mayor of Arviat. “This innovative clean energy project will be the first major renewable energy project in Canada’s North. We are excited to work with NRStor Remote Communities to achieve our vision of becoming the greenest community in the Circumpolar Arctic region.”
The Hamlet of Arviat and NRStor Remote Communities are jointly working to:
- Assess the community’s renewable energy resources, including the erection of a meteorological tower to measure the wind resource;
- Assess options to reduce the community’s dependence on fuel for heating;
- Design a comprehensive clean energy system utilizing solar, wind and energy storage technologies; and,
- Deploy a community clean energy project using a phased approach.
This project would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing diesel consumption and would deliver significant environmental, economic and social benefits to the community. The project has been supported by the Hamlet of Arviat Council, the local Hunters and Trappers Organization (HTO), and the federal government with a contribution through POLAR Knowledge Canada. Further community consultations will be led by the Hamlet of Arviat in the coming months.
“The Arviat HTO is acutely aware of the effects of global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions on our traditional territory. Indeed, the arctic environment in which we make our living is amongst the most negatively impacted places in the world by the burning of carbon-based fuels,” said Gordy Kidlapik, Chairperson of the Arviat Hunters and Trappers Organization.
He continued, “The HTO shares the Hamlet and NRStor’s goal of implementing a comprehensive clean energy solution that significantly reduces the amount of diesel fuel required to power the community of Arviat, Nunavut.”
“NRStor is extremely pleased to be working with Arviat on the first major clean energy project in Canada’s North,” said Ron MacDonald, President of NRStor Remote Communities. “The Arviat Council and administration have shown a strong vision and capacity to deliver projects with strong local environmental, economic and social benefits.”
This project provides an exciting model that can be adapted to achieve community ownership of energy and diesel reductions across Canada’s North.
About the Hamlet of Arviat
Arviat is one of the most southerly and accessible Inuit communities in Nunavut, Canada’s newest territory. Arviat is located on the western shores of Hudson Bay, approximately 200km north of Churchill, Manitoba. Framed in by several large barrenland rivers, Arviat is surrounded by lively, rolling tundra, an intriguing land rich in wildlife, a gently rolling landscape dotted with lakes and ponds, and steeped in Inuit culture.
There are a number of compelling reasons why Arviat is becoming a unique Arctic community and destination. Arviat is one of Nunavut’s largest hamlets and remains closely tied to its traditional Inuit roots. In addition to having a vibrant arts and crafts industry, Arviat is also becoming a centre of mine training and employment for the Kivalliq Region.
About NRStor Remote Communities
NRStor Remote Communities is a renewable energy and energy storage project developer dedicated to partnering with remote off-grid Indigenous communities to reduce dependence on diesel fuel. NRStor works to develop, finance, co-own and -operate industry-leading clean energy projects in partnership with progressive Northern communities and Indigenous organizations.
