Yellowknife
(March 6)
The
Northwest Territories Power Corporation was honoured twice at a national
environmental awards ceremony put on by the Voluntary Challenge & Registry
(VCR, Inc.) on March 2.
The Power Corporation
won the Leadership award for Best New Submission, and an honourable
mention for the Electric Utilities Sector. The Corporation's winning
submission was a detailed report outlining a successful plan to reduce
greenhouse gases. It included:
- a pledge of support
from management,
- a commitment
to quantifying and setting a target for greenhouse gas reduction,
- a specified timeframe,
- a commitment
to regular reporting, and
- measurable proof
that it had succeeded on all points.
Leon Courneya, President
and CEO of the Corporation, accepted the awards. "The awards program
served to challenge the Power Corporation to be at its best, and stand
as a model that other companies may follow in developing a plan to reduce
greenhouse gases," said Mr. Courneya. These latest prizes closely follow
the Corporation's attainment of Gold Level Champion Reporter status
(also from VCR) for excellence in reducing greenhouse gases and reporting
how it was done.
VCR Inc. is a voluntary,
not-for-profit organization in Ottawa designed to recognize the achievements
of participants in limiting their greenhouse gas emissions and reporting
the process. Winning these latest awards is an indicator of the Power
Corporation's commitment to finding ways to approach climate change.
In his speech announcing
the Power Corporation's Best New Submission Award, Professor of Engineering
and VCR President Robert Flemmington said "the Northwest Territories
Power Corporation is setting a strong example for other small- to medium-
sized enterprises to follow. Its first action plan/ progress report
was comprehensive, showing significant and impressive results in reducing
greenhouse gas emissions."
He went on to describe
how the Power Corporation reduced emissions by 13.88% since 1990/91
- a documented reduction of nearly 28,000 tonnes of CO2. Carbon dioxide
is a major component of greenhouse gas.
Mr. Flemminton
cited the following projects as contributing factors to the Power Corporation's
awards on March 2: • hydro generation projects
- systems to recycle
residual heat
- improving diesel
plant efficiency
- energy-efficient
street lighting
- conversion of
a power plant (Inuvik) from diesel to natural gas
- use of Wind Energy
Conversion systems
Nation-wide, the
Northwest Territories Power Corporation competed with 980 registered
members of VCR. Representatives from competing organizations were also
present to see the Power Corporation accept its awards. Among its competitors
were IBM Canada, Ford Canada, Manitoba Hydro, TransCanada Pipelines
and many more. The Power Corporation is one of just a few northern organizations
to join VCR, and Mr. Courneya hopes that the Corporation's success will
encourage other companies and institutions to join.
The Corporation
has outlined an emission reduction plan to reduce greenhouse gases by
11% on a per kWh basis (below 1991 levels) by 2004/05. To view the Corporation's
complete submission to VCR, visit
the NTPC page at the VCR Inc. web site. From here, click on "Action
Plan".
