SIOUX LOOKOUT – NEWS – The Municipality of Sioux Lookout is echoing the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association’s (NOMA) disappointment with the Ontario Energy Board’s decision regarding funding to expand natural gas service to unserved northern communities.
The Municipality of Sioux Lookout has been advocating to the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) along with the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA) and other Northern Ontario coalitions for the extension of natural gas to communities such as Sioux Lookout.
Mayor Doug Lawrance commented, “The November 18th press release from NOMA expresses NOMA’s and our shared disappointment in the recent OEB decision that essentially leaves Sioux Lookout and other unserved communities in northern Ontario to pay, on their own, for the extension of natural gas to our communities. The cost to bring natural gas to Sioux Lookout is estimated to be over $65 million.”
Lawrance explained Sioux Lookout’s position and possible next steps, advising, “For Sioux Lookout going forward, there are several possible options that might be pursued to help fund the cost of bringing natural gas to our community. However, it is likely that our best short-term option is to pursue programs that reduce our energy costs without natural gas. So our community energy planning and advocacy will focus more on programs and funding related to: funding for energy related retrofits, advocacy for hydro rate relief, energy education regarding conservation and efficiency, assistance with conversions to lower cost energy sources, and incentives for alternative energy sources (for example solar, geothermal) at the residential level.”
