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Why Not Just Connect to the North American Grid? | Monday, October 25, 2010

Question: Yukon Energy has spent considerable money in the last year to connect the grid within Yukon, which is a good idea to get smaller communities off of diesel. Once that is done, is there a plan in place to connect Yukon's grid to the 'outside', either to Alberta (through Fort Nelson) or BC? Wouldn't this option be cost-effective for Yukoners over the long term? Is this an alternative to developing new sources of power within Yukon?

If we had our druthers, we would connect to the North American grid tomorrow. The problem is the cost. Early estimates put connecting to the grid at a couple of billion dollars. With our small rate base that's just not affordable at this point in time. Certainly if the grid were to be extended further North it might become an option for us and we will continue to explore this as a possibility. As well, we are researching the potential of connecting to Alaska via a power line between Whitehorse and Skagway.