Residents in Faro, Yukon, say local diesel plant too noisy, as Yukon Energy plans expansion

The Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) is recommending Yukon Energy Corporation's application to expand the operational capacity of its diesel plant in Faro proceed, but with conditions.

That's disappointing to some residents of Faro, and also the Ross River Dena Council.  

The project would add two new fuel tanks, increasing the operational capacity of the ten current generators from 15.5 megawatts to 20.4.

The Faro generator station works as a backup for the town as well as the electrical grid for the whole territory. It's been in place since the '70s.

Some who live in the town are concerned about the additional noise and air pollution from the station, with many describing the sound disrupting sleep, the quiet enjoyment of their homes, and outdoor recreation, according to YESAB's recommendation report from June 20. The document states that people expressed concern about how noise is affecting sense of place, human health, wildlife health, and property values.

On YESAB's website, there are 18 comments on the project page decrying the noise pollution. 

Doug Tutty has lived in Faro since 2018. He says the loudest sound used to be the clickity-clack of raven's claws as they walked across his roof but that changed in 2020 when Yukon Energy Corporation (YEC) added additional rented back-up generators.

"When I'm outside in the winter, let's say I go out to enjoy the northern lights, I'm accompanied by the sound of the generators," Tutty said. 

He says he's not happy there could soon be more noise and he says it's worse for the people who live in the lower bench area of town near the generator station.

"They get the low-frequency sounds that'll rattle your windows," Tutty said. 

Faro Mayor Jack Bowers agrees the noise has been a big issue. 

"Certainly in the wintertime when the generators are needed most, when it's colder or you have an air inversion, the sound seems to be amplified," he said. 

But Bowers says he's optimistic YESAB's recommended terms and conditions could provide a solution. One of those conditions is a shed or a sound barrier wall to house the generators.

Yukon Energy Corporation said between December 2023 and May 2024 the generators ran 20 per cent of the time. Paul Murchison, the company's vice president of engineering and capital projects, said the generators ran for less than five hours a day, and mostly during the day. 

Murchison says YEC explored barrier walls, but found "there is a question about the actual performance of sound barriers."

He says in response to community feedback, YEC moved three of the generators behind an existing building in an effort to reduce noise.

Murchison points out Faro also benefits from the territory's shared energy grid, adding that 90 per cent of power in the territory comes from the Whitehorse, Aishihik, and Mayo hydroelectric dams. 

"If you take a look at Faro and our other communities, the vast majority of their electricity is provided by hydroelectricity," said Murchison. 

The Yukon Government has 30 days to accept, vary or reject YESAB's recommendations. The government's decision will determine what conditions Yukon Energy has to adhere to as part of its new 10-year air emissions permit. 

Murchison says the energy corporation will comply with whatever the government says.

"If we can improve the impacts of sound on the community, we're willing to do that," said Murchison. 

Ross River Dena Council 'does not consent'

Ross River Dena Council Chief Dylan Loblaw says his nation "does not consent to the project." 

The First Nation does not have an agreement in place with the territorial government. As such, Loblaw says those looking to have projects on Ross River Dena traditional territory must go through the nation's own environmental assessment process, called the Tū Łīdlini Assessment Process (TAP). 

"Our hope is to be meaningfully consulted," Loblaw said. 

In a written statement, YEC said "conversations are occurring between the government of Yukon and [Ross River Dena Council] on a government-to-government level, to explore how the TAP process will be considered for legacy projects."