Event Recap: Baker Lake Town Hall (October 31, 2024)

Kivalliq Alternative Energy
Dec 20, 2024
11 min read

Updated: Dec 23, 2024

Kivalliq Alternative Energy

December 20, 2024

Event Overview

Who: Kivalliq Alternative Energy

What: Town Hall #2 – Baker Lake Wind Energy Project

When: October 31, 2024*

Location: Recreation Centre, Baker Lake

Target Audience: Baker Lake community members

Attendance: Approx. 25 people*

*The Town Hall was postponed by 1 day due to a blizzard in Baker Lake. The new time coincided with both Halloween and Bingo night, resulting in a lower-than-expected turnout at the event.

Hosts:

Blaine Chislett, Energy & Sustainability Manager, Sakku Investments Corporation (SIC)
Dana May, Project Development Manager, Northern Energy Capital (NEC)
Ruben den Uyl, Renewable Energy Analyst, NEC

Summary of Town Hall Presentation

Kivalliq Alternative Energy (KAE), an Inuit led partnership between Sakku Investments and Northern Energy Capital, is exploring the benefits of a wind and energy storage project in Baker Lake.
The Project aims to generate locally-produced clean energy, reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels, and increase energy sovereignty, security and economic development in the Kivalliq Region.
Wind energy offers benefits, but trade-offs such as land disturbance during construction, noise, and potential interactions with wildlife must first be fully understood.
Project infrastructure includes 1-3 wind turbines with 46m-69m turbine height, a battery storage system, a new road and an electrical line to connect the Project to Baker Lake's grid.
Project capacity is 1-3 MW of wind energy with 1-3 MWh of battery storage. It is estimated to produce 5,000 MWh of renewable energy per year, meeting 40% of Baker Lake's total electricity demand (~300 homes) and displacing 1,160,000 L of diesel per year.
Two sites are currently being studied, north of the community along the AEM road. Site selection criteria consider wind speed, distance to objects, environmental impact, and wildlife concerns.
Community engagement is a key aspect, with ongoing opportunities for feedback and collaboration.
Project timeline includes community engagement, wildlife monitoring, final site selection, design and engineering, with target construction start planned for 2026.
Recap of KAE's previous town hall in July (click to view)
Project Updates (as of October 2024):
- Community engagement activities nearing completion
- Wildlife monitoring program expected to conclude in November, with results to follow
- Connection Impact Assessment underway with QEC
- Energy 101 course planning underway. KAE continues to seek a community co-developer.

KAE identified three key topics to address based on questions from the previous town hall in July:

Click the arrows to view details

1) Impact of renewable energy on electricity rates

2) Wind turbine safety in Arctic conditions

3) Project Location and Wildlife Considerations

Download Baker Lake Town Hall Presentation (PDF):

New Engagement Activities

KAE is committed to continually improving our community outreach tactics. Based on feedback received during the previous town hall in July, KAE added the following activities to our October trip:

Elders Meeting: KAE organized a luncheon for 12 Baker Lake Elders to present the proposed wind project, answer questions, and engage in knowledge-sharing discussions. Despite blizzard conditions, 10 of 12 invitees showed up. Elders received an honorarium for their time.
School Visit: KAE visited a Grade 9 class at the local high school to talk about careers in the renewable energy sector for a pilot curriculum program with EHRC's Bright Futures Energy Camp. Dana and Ruben were excited to talk to students and plant seeds for future skilled workers.
Radio Show: KAE hosted an hour-long radio show on Baker Lake's local station about the proposed wind project. The show was rescheduled for Oct 31 due to a blizzard on Oct 30.
Whisper Kits: KAE used personal audio devices (a.k.a. whisper kits) during the town hall to improve the translation experience for Inuktitut-speaking attendees. These devices allow the interpreter to translate live without pausing the presentation. The whisper kits were provided by KIA.

Kivalliq Alternative Energy team members Dana May and Ruben den Uyl visit a Grade 9 class to talk about careers in the energy sector for EHRC's Bright Futures Energy Camp, set up a Trick-or-Treat station for Halloween, and host a town hall to answer questions and gather feedback on the proposed wind energy project in Baker Lake, October 30-31 2024. PHOTO: Ruben den Uyl

Questions from the Community

Click the arrows to view KAE's responses

Q1: How much noise will the wind turbines produce, and what is the minimum required distance between the turbines and houses?

Q2: Will the wind turbines be effective in Baker Lake's harsh environment? How will they withstand extreme weather conditions?

Q3: How will the project help reduce electricity bills for homeowners?

Q4: How will the wind energy project integrate with the existing diesel generators? What happens to excess energy if not needed, and how will the system respond to fluctuations in wind speed?

Q5: How much will the project cost, and who is responsible for funding it?

Q6: How will the project's turbines and batteries be disposed of at the end of their lifecycle, and who is responsible for it?

Q7: What kinds of job opportunities and skills training will be available for community members as part of the project? Will there be training/employment opportunities after construction?

Q8: How will youth be engaged throughout the project?

Q9: How is project data collected and shared with the community?

Q10: Could the project have negative impacts on the people of Baker Lake?

Feedback from the Community

Town hall attendees seemed to agree with Location 1 as the preferred project site, and no additional concerns were raised when discussing the estimated noise levels or size of the wind turbines.
The Elders who were invited to the lunch explicitly remarked that they appreciated the chance to be involved in the development process, and all were in favour of renewable energy initiatives in the community.
General remarks from the Elders lunch noted that the Baker Lake community is tired of buying from the south and want to start producing and selling locally. They also expressed concern for the local capacity and work ethic in the community, and whether KAE's project will address this issue.
Elders wondered if there was a high request for help among the community with residential solar PV projects (via QEC's Net-Metering Program), noting that people could use some assistance accessing grants, filling out applications, and ordering/installing the equipment.

About Kivalliq Alternative Energy

Kivalliq Alternative Energy (KAE) is a leader in the clean energy transition in Nunavut's Kivalliq region. By developing renewable energy-generating projects, KAE is increasing energy independence for the remote communities it represents. KAE's projects nurture community benefits, grow local capacity and lay the foundations for powering the region's clean energy future. KAE is an Inuit-led partnership between Sakku Investments Corporation (SIC) and Northern Energy Capital (NEC).