Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation enters the power business

The Lutsel K'e Dene First Nation, an isolated community in the Northwest Territories, is celebrating becoming the first independent power producer in all three territories.

Over the past two years the community of about 300 people constructed a $350,00035 kilowatt solar array with the help of Bullfrog Power a green energy provider. The community also signed a power purchase agreement with the Northwest Territories Power Corporation. The companyagreed to pay a fee to thecommunity for the diesel itssolar array offsets.

"We are the first in the N.W.T. to produce power and sell it to the power corporation," saidAgathaLaboucan, thesenior administrative officer inLutsel K'e.

"The land here is very important to our members," she said.

"By producing solar power that actually has limited harm to the land made it easy for our members to accept the project."

The solar array was set to be switched on in April 2015, but Laboucan saida wiringproblem delayed commissioning of the project. It was finally turned onin March of this year.

The array was also projected to generate 20 per centof the community'spower needs, butLaboucan saidthat number may be closer to 10 or15 per cent. Solar power generation is weather-dependent, soshe said the community will have to waitandsee how the first year of operation goes.

Despite these questions, the community already hasa plan for the money it will get from the power corporation.

"The funds thatwe receive from what'sgenerated will go into a green energy fund to be used forfuture renewable energy projects for the community," Laboucan said.

The community will hold a ribbon cuttingceremony on Friday at the site.