British Columbia and Yukon have signed a memorandum of understanding to begin feasibility studies on connecting their electrical grids.
B.C. Premier David Eby and Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai signed the agreement Thursday during the Western Premiers’ Conference in Yellowknife.
Eby called the proposed Yukon–B.C. Grid Connect a “generational opportunity to boost our clean-energy supply to power our growing communities and industries, while also advancing reconciliation and our climate goals.”
The joint statement says both governments have agreed to collaborate on increasing renewable energy generation in western Canada, and to explore Indigenous partnership and ownership opportunities.
“Together, we will seek federal support to advance this clean electricity corridor for economic growth and critical mineral development in the Yukon and northern B.C., and build on the successes of B.C.’s North Coast Transmission Line,” Pillai said in the statement.
The North Coast Transmission project will include a new transmission line stretching about 450 kilometres between Prince George and Terrace.
While B.C. is connected to the North American electrical grid, Yukon is not. A page on the Yukon government’s website says linking the territory to the continental grid could boost power supply, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels, and support Arctic security, reconciliation and economic development.
A draft statement from the B.C. government says the memorandum will take effect May 26, 2025, and remain in place until March 31, 2030.
