The Whitehorse Rapids Generating Station (WRGS) is located at the outlet of Schwatka Lake, on the Yukon River in Whitehorse, Yukon. Today, the WRGS is a critical piece of infrastructure in the Yukon, generating about 80% of the electricity Yukoners use during the summer months, and about 25% of the electricity needed during the winter. The WRGS is critical to Yukon Energy’s ability to generate an average of 97% renewable electricity by 2030 and for Yukon government to achieve its climate change goals over the same time period.
Constructed in 1958, the facility was built on the Traditional Territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation (KDFN) and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council (TKC). The generating station is fed from the Southern Lakes, which are located on the Traditional Territories of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation (KDFN), Carcross/Tagish First Nation (C/TFN) and the Taku River Tlingit First Nation (TRTFN). As such, the Project study area overlaps the traditional territories of TKC, KDFN, C/TFN, and TRTFN.
Yukon Energy operates WRGS under an authorization (Type A Water Use Licence) from the Yukon Water Board that expires on May 31, 2025. Yukon Energy is initiating the relicensing process for WRGS (the WRGS Relicensing Project, the Project). The Corporation anticipates that in addition to the renewal of the existing Type A Water Use Licence, a Fisheries Act Authorization and authorization under the Canadian Navigable Waters Act will be requirements of the permitting stage of the Project.
Yukon Energy is working closely with Kwanlin Dün First Nation (KDFN), Ta’an Kwäch’än Council (TKC), Carcross/Tagish First Nation (C/TFN) and Yukon Government (YG) (the Project Partners) throughout the planning, assessment and permitting processes for the Project. Several working tables have been formed for the purposes of the project planning. These include: Leadership Group (LG), Senior Officials Group (SOG), and a Technical Working Group (TWG).
The TWG directs the technical and project proposal development priorities and activities during the Project and includes members from each of the Project Partners.
The TWG is seeking a Consultant that will provide multi-disciplinary technical support and develop a project proposal that will be assessed pursuant to the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act. The TWG will inform and direct activities under this contract. Yukon Energy will provide administrative contract management and oversight of the successful consultant.
The purpose of this RFP is to engage a suitably qualified technical consulting team to undertake the scope of work outlined in the following sections.
