Yellowknife is the winner of the Sustainable Community of Canada Coalition Energy Category Award 2018. Yellowknife's biomass energy system is driven by wood pellet fuel and is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 829 tonnes per annum and annually Save 14-16 million.
The regional energy system is shared by five municipal buildings in the urban area, which used to require about 367,000 liters of heating oil each year - a heating fuel that the city previously relied on for heating.
The Yellowknifes regional energy system is a source of inspiration for other Northern cities looking for alternative energy, in fact, some owners in the neighborhood have contacted the city to discuss the benefits and difficulties of implementing similar systems, "FCM said.
More than 70% of Yellowknife's energy consumption is used for heating homes and buildings, which is an expensive expense in northern Canada.
"The project will support the local wood pellet plant currently under development and will bring economic benefits to the area when the project is up and running," FCM said.
The regional energy system is expected to start operating in March 2018.
