Yukon government looking to restart renewable energy rebate program

The new Yukon government says it's looking to restart a program that allows people to sell surplus renewable energy into the territorial grid.

Two years ago, the previous Liberal government paused the territory's microgeneration program citing concerns about the stability of the grid. The pause only applied to Whitehorse and the surrounding area, and had no impact on microgeneration projects that had already been approved or built.

Under the territory's micro-generation program, Yukoners connected to the electrical grid who installed solar or another renewable energy system to a site could receive an annual reimbursement for any surplus energy fed into the grid.

Right now, the pause is still in effect until January.

In an emailed statement to CBC News on Thursday, Energy, Mines and Resources Minister Ted Laking said that during this fall's election campaign, his party heard "loud and clear from Yukoners their desire for affordable and reliable energy."

"One way we plan to make energy reliable and affordable is to determine and communicate the conditions required to restart the microgeneration policy," Laking said.

One company that's eager to see the program reinstated is Solvest, a Whitehorse-based company that's done hundreds of solar installations.

The company has described the microgeneration program as "foundational" to its success and growth. Solvest started 10 years ago with six employees and it now has more than 60 on staff.

The company says there are now about 800 homes in the Yukon equipped with solar panels.

Dan Guhl of Solvest says he's optimistic about the microgeneration program under the new government, since it was a previous Yukon Party government that introduced it years ago.

"We're hoping that, you know, with this new government, they'll bring that back."