Climate Change on Energy Cost and Usage

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Many First Nations rely on oil, large-scale hydroelectric power, and nuclear power to meet their energy needs. Many communities located in the south are connected to a large grid system. This grid system is usually fed from a large-scale energy production plant, such as large-scale hydroelectric dams (in Manitoba and Ontario), coal or natural gas (in Alberta and Saskatchewan) or nuclear (in Ontario, Quebec). Climate change will affect the cost of energy in First Nations and the supply of energy to these communities.

In some hydroelectric-dependent First Nation ‘on-grid’ communities, the production of energy may decrease if water flow levels decrease. If precipitation levels are lower where hydropower production originates, capabilities of production will decrease. This is particularly a concern in potentially drought-prone areas such as the Prairies and in the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence region, where higher evaporation rates due to warmer temperatures would likely lower present water levels (Mayer 1998; IPCC, 2001). It is also a concern in British Columbia as a result of melting glaciers and decreased snow cover in the Rockies (C-CIARN, 2006). As the amount of energy produced decreases, the need to import energy from other grids increases. This increases costs to receive energy and would likely add to the financial stress First Nations are currently experiencing.

Other First Nations do not rely on large-scale energy production from hydro, oil, coal, or nuclear sectors. These ‘off-grid’ communities are usually located in northern isolated regions. The energy produced in these communities is through the burning of diesel fuel, which is often transported into the community from southern locations along winter roads or seasonal barges.

The increased costs associated with importing fuel via air travel, resulting from the impacts of climate change on availability of seasonal transportation and winter roads, may again increase the cost of energy for First Nations. Changes to federal funding programs will be required in order to address the increasing pressures on First Nations’ financial resources. Alternatively, investments in renewable energy in these communities would have multiple advantages of reducing greenhouse gas emissions while decreasing expensive transportation costs and increasing self-sustainability and economic capacity. Climate change predictions indicate warmer summer temperatures, which would increase the use of cooling devices such as fans and air conditioners.

This would increase energy demands and would place an unsustainable burden on existing energy supplies in many highly populated areas such as southern Ontario. In times of low energy supply, a reduction of energy use may be required. In First Nations, energy conservation may become mandatory, especially those located near highly populated areas. First Nations may also be affected by low energy supply in drought-prone areas such as in the Prairies and in the Great Lakes – St. Lawrence regions as a result of low water supply. An energy conservation requirement may require community members to endure more variable and unpredictable residential temperatures (with a corresponding effect on human health) in order to ensure energy supplies are available for essential systems, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and food storage areas.