Yukon Energy seeks input on future power plans

Yukon Energy kicked off a round of consultations on how it should supply electricity toYukonersover the next 20 years with a public meeting in Whitehorse onTuesday.

One of the big questions involves the balance between cost and the environment.

Yukon Energy president Andrew Hall said the government-owned company is asking basic questions about how it should plan for future energy generation.

"Is your value around economics 'cheap is best'or is the value really about environmental needs?" Hall said.

Whitehorse CityCouncillorBetty Irwinwas among those in attendance.

"We style ourselves the wilderness city," she said. "This is the wilderness, you know.How far are we willing to go to protect that and to give up our creature comforts to protect that?Those are all questions that you have to answer, I think."

Irwin said she also wants Yukon Energy to plan for emergency interruptions to the power supply.

There wasn't a big crowd at Yukon College for the public meeting.

Irwin saidshe's concerned a relatively small number of people could have a big say in what happens.