VREC/Greenpeace and Save The Arctic

Hi, from The Great White North!

VREC was approached in 2015 by Greenpeace to explore the possibility of installing photovoltaic solar in the Arctic hamlet of Clyde River, Naunavut.  Residents of Clyde River had previously reached out to Greenpeace to assist them in the fight against underwater seismic blasting (an oil exploration method), which is known to cause behavioural abnormalities in sea mammals.  The search for oil leaves whales and other creatures finding themselves unable to communicate, thereby fleeing, getting trapped under sea ice, delaying feeding and reproducing, and experiencing generally high levels of stress.

(Arctic Sunrise crew preparing to lift the panels aboard in St. John’s)

VREC, by installing a ~7 kW system on the Clyde River Community Hall, is proud to be part of the effort to reduce the isolated hamlet’s dependence on fossil fuels for their everyday electrical needs.  The pollution and excessive price of diesel-generated electricity make solar an effective solution to throttle back on fossil fuel consumption during the long days of the summer season.

Leaving from St. John’s Newfoundland, VREC and Greenpeace members loaded 28 solar panels aboard the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise, and made the 9-day journey to Clyde River, where they brought them up to the Community Hall and are currently installing them.  The installation is expected to save the hamlet about $4,500 per year on their electrical bill.

(Solar panels being brought to shore by Zodiac from the Anchored boat in Clyde River)

Joining Crew on the trip are Greenpeace staff, a Marine Biologist, a professor of energy and physics, and film star Emma Thompson and her Daughter Gaia Romily Wise, who have long been committed to Greenpeace’s efforts in the Arctic.

Anyone interested in getting involved check out Save The Arctic on Facebook.