Alternatives North has written to NWT political leaders questioning the wisdom of expanding the Taltson River hydro-electric facility.

The organization points out that hydro dams are not “green” energy. River dams impact aquatic life, affect water quality, release greenhouse gases and mercury and cause downstream issues.

In other parts of the world, work is underway to decommission old dams and rectify the serious damage they caused. Current GNWT policy would have us go the other way.

Rather than damming large rivers to generate electricity that is offered at low rates to industry as a subsidy to stimulate industrial development, truly sustainable development requires a comprehensive approach that includes locally and regionally derived energy focused on communities. That approach facilitates appropriately scaled and locally focused economic development.

Read the letter.