“Through this international collaboration, our intent is to increase and improve economic development opportunities,” Yukon Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources Scott Kent said. “Our mutual vision is to strengthen our communities through improved telecommunications infrastructure and reliable and affordable energy.”

In October 2013 the two governments signed a memorandum of understanding to fund the feasibility study assessing the potential for a combined electrical transmission and telecommunications connection between the City of Whitehorse, Yukon and the Municipality of Skagway, Alaska.

The Yukon government is leading the contracting process on behalf of the two governments.

“Yukon and Alaska have enjoyed a long history of working together and collaborating on projects like this allows us to strengthen and grow our economies as well as our friendship,” Minister of Economic Development Currie Dixon said. “Infrastructure projects like this will provide benefits for both our economies and will further integrate our already well-connected jurisdictions.”

“I am pleased to see continued progress through the issuance of this RFP as Yukon and Alaska evaluate the cross-border benefits that would flow from a Skagway to Whitehorse economic development corridor,” Alaska Commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Susan Bell said. “Increased development of renewable energy and greater broadband communication capacity will benefit the entire Upper Lynn Canal economic region and help to strengthen our communities.”

The successful bidder also will examine the financial, technical and economic viability of creating an economic corridor that could facilitate the development of new electrical generation options near Skagway.

The C$250,000 contract is expected to be awarded in April with a final report due to the joint Yukon-Southeast Alaska Economic Development Corridor Working Group by Dec. 31.