Wekwèti’s senior administrative officer is seeking funding from both the territorial and federal governments to back a biomass district heating initiative in the community. Fred Behrens has identified opportunities to secure financial support from the territorial government’s GHG Grant Program and the federal government’s Build Communities Strong Fund for the project.
The plan entails establishing a heat plant near the community government office in Wekwèti, located 200 kilometers north of Yellowknife and housing approximately 100 residents. The facility will house three 300-kilowatt biomass boilers that will distribute heat to 44 homes and 11 institutional structures via an underground piping network. The biomass fuel will be sourced from forest thinning activities and wildfire prevention efforts in the vicinity. Additionally, the boilers will be linked to the community’s diesel generators, utilizing their exhaust as an additional heat source.
Behrens anticipates that the biomass district heating system will cater to 95% of the community’s heating needs. The estimated cost of the project ranges between $15 million and $20 million, with projected annual savings of $200,000 on heating fuel expenses for the community. If all goes as planned, Behrens envisions the system being operational by 2028.
The use of wood for district heating has received positive feedback in Wekwèti. The community has received funding from the N.W.T. government to mitigate fire risks by clearing brush and reducing tree density in the area. Residents involved in the fire prevention work have expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of utilizing the harvested material for heating purposes.
In a recent presentation to the N.W.T.’s economic development and environment committee, Behrens outlined the project’s readiness and the need for capital funding. Community engagements have been conducted to inform residents about the benefits of the district heating system, which is expected to offer cost-effective heating solutions compared to traditional fuel sources.
Discussions in the committee highlighted the potential for the community to leverage federal infrastructure funding and user fees to finance the project. While this remains an option, Behrens cautioned that it could take several years to recoup the project costs through this approach. Legislators expressed support for the initiative, emphasizing the importance of such sustainable heating projects in the region.