Paulatuk’s Energy Journey Begins: A New Chapter in Northern Wind Power
- Northern Energy Capital
- Dec 3, 2025
- 4 min read
Northern Energy Capital
Published December 03, 2025
In November 2025, NEC’s Malek Tawashy and Kailey Wright traveled to Paulatuk, Northwest Territories, to support the launch of the community’s first-ever Energy Plan and contribute to a four-day Community Energy Systems Course. From enduring whiteout conditions to exchanging renewable energy lessons from across the North, this trip marked a turning point in Paulatuk’s clean energy future.
Credit: Kailey Wright
From Whitehorse to Paulatuk: An Arctic Commute
The journey to Paulatuk itself reflects the resilience required to work in northern energy development. After traveling from Whitehorse to Inuvik and staying overnight, Kailey and Malek boarded a charter flight into Paulatuk—a small, remote hamlet on the edge of the Arctic coast. Greeted by freezing winds and heavy snowfall, the team got to work without delay.
One of the most powerful visuals of the trip? A photo of Malek and Kailey standing in front of the Aklak Air plane, snow swirling in the background—symbolizing the lengths to which NEC goes to support community-led energy transformation.
Credit: Kailey Wright
Launching the Paulatuk Community Energy Plan
A highlight of the week was witnessing the Paulatuk Energy Working Group (PEWG) present their Community Energy Plan in print for the first time. Years of community engagement, data gathering, and collaborative planning came together in one tangible document—a roadmap toward energy sovereignty.
For NEC, being part of this moment was deeply meaningful. As Kailey described,
“It was the realization of a long and thoughtful process, and a sign of what’s possible when partnerships are built on trust and shared goals.”
Capacity Building in Action: The Community Energy Systems Course
The heart of the trip was a four-day co-developed course delivered by Northern Energy Innovation (NEI) and the PEWG. Despite wind gusts reaching 90 km/h the sessions continued as planned—demonstrating the perseverance and commitment of everyone involved.
The course didn’t just cover technical topics; it centered community voices, shared real-life stories from past wind energy projects, and sparked powerful conversations about ownership, opportunity, and resilience.
Credit: Kailey Wright
Lessons from the Yukon: Haeckel Hill and Kluane
NEC brought key learnings from the Haeckel Hill–Thay T’äw Wind Energy Project (Whitehorse, YT) and Kristy Kenedy (Kluane First Nation) discussed Burwash Landing’s Lhù'ààn Mân N'tsi initiative to the discussion.
These case studies showed Paulatuk’s leadership that wind energy projects in the North are not only feasible—they can be community-owned and transformative.
“Sharing our trials and triumphs helped paint a full picture,” said Malek Tawashy. “We wanted to show that while setbacks are part of the process, success is entirely possible—with the right team and community-led approach.”
Credit: Kailey Wright
Partnerships and People
Throughout the week, NEC built new relationships and strengthened existing ones. Key connections included:
NTPC – Ian Flood led a detailed tour of the local power plant
Aurora Research Institute – David Schwarz walked the group through the LiDAR setup
Yukon University / Northern Energy Innovation
Ulukhaktok Wind Committee
Community of Paulatuk
These connections are essential to co-developing sustainable and culturally relevant solutions.
Credit: Kailey Wright
Arctic Moments: Fish, Snow, and Mentorship
Not all memories were made in the classroom. One unexpected delight? A moment of cultural exchange when Grace, one of the community participants, received a freshly caught fish from Malek—captured in a series of heartwarming photos. Snow shoveling, small-plane flights, and moments of mentorship between Grace and Malek added warmth and humanity to the demanding work.
Photo: Grace Nakimayak (left) & Malek Tawashy (right)
Credit: Kailey Wright
Looking Ahead: Paulatuk 2027 and Beyond
The path ahead is ambitious. With the Community Energy Plan now in place, Paulatuk is preparing for next steps—developing the logistics pathway for a wind energy project that could be shovel-ready by 2027. NEC will continue supporting this journey with a deep commitment to partnership, technical excellence, and cultural respect.
“The only way to achieve truly sustainable energy is by co-developing solutions and sharing the invaluable lessons learned from lived project experiences across the North. This week proved Paulatuk is ready to lead the way.” — Kailey Wright
Final Thoughts
Working in the Arctic isn’t easy—but that’s exactly why NEC does it. This trip to Paulatuk reaffirms what we’ve always believed: that real energy transformation in the North comes from within the communities themselves, and our role is to walk alongside them.
We’re proud to support Paulatuk’s vision and excited for what’s to come.
Credit: Kailey Wright
Join Us on Our Journey
Northern Energy Capital is dedicated to meeting our Net-Zero Challenge goals. Download our Comprehensive Net-Zero Plan to learn more about the actions we are taking to achieve our ambitious emission reduction targets by 2050. Have questions or want to collaborate? Get in touch with us at contact@northernenergycapital.com or 250-213-8185 to learn more about how we can help you achieve your energy goals.
About Northern Energy Capital (NEC)
Northern Energy Capital is a renewable energy development company dedicated to empowering northern and remote communities in their transition from fossil fuel consumption to clean energy asset ownership. Established in 2025, NEC is the development partner of choice for off-grid and remote communities that seek to achieve energy independence through locally owned and locally produced renewable energy.
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