Energy costs in the winter of early 2011 were about one dollar per kilowatt hour in the northern community of Kimmirut in Nunavut. In cities like Calgary or Toronto, the average cost was about 8.5 per cent of that.

Energy costs in the winter of early 2011 were about one dollar per kilowatt hour in the northern community of Kimmirut in Nunavut. In cities like Calgary or Toronto, the average cost was about 8.5 per cent of that.
Photo Credit: Chris Wattie/Reuters

Reducing use of diesel in remote communities

Four provinces and two territories have set up a task force to look at how to reduce the use of diesel fuel to generate electricity in remote communities. Most Canadians live in the southern part of the country, but there are nearly 300 far-flung communities which are off the electricity grid and have a population of about 200,000 people.

Electricity in the north most often costs far more than it does in southern communities and is a subject of much debate.

Energy ministers from the provinces and territories are meeting in in the eastern city of Halifax. Those from Manitoba, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Northwest Territories and Yukon have agreed to organize a task force to look at efforts that have been made or are currently underway to reduce the use of diesel. It will make recommendations on the next steps to take.

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