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# Government of Canada supports Government of Yukon’s biomass heating system expansion

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Today, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada Jonathan Wilkinson was in Whitehorse to celebrate the expansion of Whitehorse Correctional Centre’s biomass heating system with Minister of Highways and Public Works Richard Mostyn. The project draws funding from Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Fund, as biomass is a low-carbon energy source.

In December, the Government of Yukon and the Government of Canada announced the expansion of the Whitehorse Correctional Centre’s biomass heating system to include two additional public buildings. This initiative supports the Government of Yukon’s climate action strategy, as it will help reduce the buildings’ greenhouse gas emissions by 82 per cent compared to 2010.

> We are proud to invest in the Government of Yukon’s Whitehorse Biomass District Heating System. This project will reduce emissions, make the air cleaner to breathe and create good jobs for Northerners. This project will also serve as an important case study that can encourage more biomass projects in the future.

> This investment from the Government of Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Fund is an important step towards reducing the Yukon’s reliance on fossil fuels. In partnership with the Government of Yukon, we are working to find creative northern solutions to climate change.

> Biomass is a win for the environment and a win for the economy. It’s a perfect example of what can be achieved through targeted measures. I would like to thank the Government of Canada for its generous support of this important project.

Quick facts

- By 2050, this project is expected to reduce the buildings’ total cumulative greenhouse gases by 12,000 tonnes.

Media contact

Stewart Burnett
Cabinet Communications
867-332-0480
stewart.burnett@gov.yk.ca

Keely Bass
Communications, Highways and Public Works
867-332-3950
keely.bass@gov.yk.ca

News release #:
20-035
Related information:
Whitehorse biomass heating system to expand
Low Carbon Economy Fund