Public opinion sought for geothermal regulations in Yukon, Canada
On the Takhini River - Yukon, Canada (Source: Flickr, CC, By: Jenn)
Carlo Cariaga
23 Jun 2022
The Government of Yukon is seeking public opinion on proposed legislation that will administer and regulate the region's geothermal sector.
The Government of Yukon is seeking public input on legislation that will outline the rules and procedures for how the exploration and development of geothermal resources can occur in Yukon in a safe and environmentally sustainable way. Comments can be sent via email to geothermalact@yukon.ca and will be accepted until 16 August, 2022, 4:30 pm.
The proposal to create a Geothermal Resources Act is part of the action plan under the “Our Clean Future” program. This is the response of the Government of Yukon to the climate emergency that aims to reduce Yukon’s greenhouse gas emission by 45% by 2030 and ensure that all Yukoners have access to reliable and affordable renewable energy.
Yukon currently has no legislation that is concerned with the administration and regulation of geothermal resource exploration and development projects. The proposed content for the geothermal resources regulatory regime will contain the following items:
- A definition of geothermal resources in Yukon;
- A description of where the legislation will apply;
- A geothermal tenure and rights regime;
- A regulatory regime that encompasses the full spectrum of potential geothermal exploration and development activities that follow principles of environmental sustainability;
- Prescription of decommissioning procedures and reclamation responsibilities;
- Measures to address liability; and
- A royalty regime
Those who are planning to send comments are encouraged to provide their responses to the following questions:
- What are your thoughts on the Government of Yukon administering and regulating the Yukon’s geothermal resource sector?
- Are there any topics or areas of interest that are important for the Government of Yukon to consider in developing legislation to administer and regulate geothermal resources in the Yukon?
The Government of Yukon’s Geothermal and Petroleum Resources Branch within the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources will be responsible for implementing this new regulatory regime.
In 2021, the Government of Yukon earmarked CAD 2 million in funding for the drilling of temperature gradient drills for exploratory work in the region. The feasibility of using geothermal for greenhouse agriculture had also been assessed by a group of students earlier this year as part of the 2021 REDEVELOP Geothermal Challenge and with the aid of Eavor Technologies.
Source: Government of Yukon
