Yukon Renewable Electricity Panel final report released

The Yukon Renewable Electricity Panel final report is now available to the public. The report follows public engagement on Yukon’s renewable energy future organized by the Government of Yukon, the Yukon Energy Corporation and Yukon Development Corporation. The expert panel hosted public conversations, and gathered input on renewable electricity from students, non-government organizations, advocacy groups, electricity stakeholder groups, and Yukon First Nations.

The report includes detailed advice on how to meet Yukon’s future electricity demands through renewable sources, broken down into four strategic areas: conservation, renewables, bio-energy and economic development. The advice will inform the final development of Our Clean Future: A Yukon strategy for Climate Change, Energy and a Green Economy.

Yukoners are committed to a clean energy future. This report provides a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities for building renewable electricity in Yukon and will inform our government’s approach to building a clean energy future for Yukon. Thank you to panel members for sharing their strong technical knowledge and valuable expertise, and to all the Yukoners that took part in these important conversations.

Minister of Department Energy Mines and Resources Ranj Pillai

I’m encouraged to see alignment between many of the Renewable Electricity Panel’s recommendations and our draft 10-Year Renewable Electricity Plan. As the panel highlights, energy conservation, investments in enhanced hydro generation and pumped storage, new transmission capacity, and new markets for our surplus summer power are all excellent opportunities for us to build a sustainable energy future in Yukon.

President and CEO of Yukon Energy Corporation Andrew Hall

We were very impressed with the level of interest in electrical energy at all our meetings. Many Yukoners see electrical energy as a means of reducing their greenhouse gas emissions from heating and, increasingly, transportation. We feel that multi-stakeholder input, an increased role for First Nations, and a combined energy – economic development oriented decision-making process will be critical moving forward.

Yukon-based member of the Yukon Renewable Electricity Panel John Maissan

Quick facts 
  • The Yukon Renewable Electricity Panel members were John Maissan, Chris Henderson, Michael Ross and Ravi Seethapathy.

  • In November 2019, the panel hosted public conversations, and gathered input on renewable electricity, in Whitehorse, Watson Lake and Haines Junction.

  • Our Clean Future, Yukon’s draft strategy for climate change, energy and a green economy, proposes to continue to generate around 93 percent of Yukon’s electricity from renewable sources, even as our population and electricity demands grow.

Media contact 

Matthew Cameron
Cabinet Communications
867-393-7136
matthew.cameron@gov.yk.ca

Brigitte Parker
Communications, Energy, Mines and Resources
867-667-3183
brigitte.parker@gov.yk.ca

Stephanie Cunha
Communications, Yukon Energy Corporation
867-393-5333
stephanie.cunha@yec.yk.ca

John Maissan
Yukon Renewable Electricity Panel
867-668-7774
john.maissan@northwestel.net

News release #: 
20-015