dailynewsnblog
The Sask Party and NDP have presented similar and disastrous plans for the electrical grid. There are details about what the Sask Party would have Sask Power do, in this Moose Jaw Today story from March. I’d urge caution when reading it, as it has disinformation from Sask Power, not just information contained within its paragraphs.
“This was achieved by avoiding the construction of new natural gas generation power plants equipped with carbon capture, and avoiding the construction of new transmission and distribution infrastructure associated with additional renewable generation,” SaskPower wrote.
One thing to note is that we have only until 2028 to stop a new deal to mine more low-grade lignite coal to burn.
Yesterday the NDP revealed the 25 year Sask Party plan will cost $26 billion to implement. That comparable to a 1-time cost to provide solar power to 100% of Saskatchewan residents. Except the NDP would rather compare it to 6 – 7 so-called Natural Gas plants, or even SMR nuclear reactors. Those options lock us into burning comparably bad fossil fuels, or the most expensive means to generate electricity, when we’ve still under-tapped our renewable energy potential.
“SaskPower noted that based on the direction to extend the life of coal rather than follow the Clean Electricity Regulations, the Crown corporation has reduced projected capital expenditures by more than $21 billion to 2050.”
“rather than follow the Clean Electricity Regulations”?!
Said another way, rather than follow THE LAW, the Sask Party is encouraging Sask Power to BREAK THE LAW, while locking Saskatchewan on a disastrous ecological and economic course that we will never recover from.
“External consultants have estimated the cost of refurbishing SaskPower’s 1,500 megawatts of existing coal facilities at $2.6 billion, while the cost of a new 370-megawatt combined cycle gas-generating plant is currently $1.7 billion.”
The NDP says, “We gave modellers no constraints beyond “not coal”. Well, shit. That’s leaving the door open to other fossil fuel boondoggles like brand new gas plants, exactly that path abandoned by more responsible parts of the world.
Aleana Young:
“This [power variability of renewables] is why building natural gas and eventually nuclear is a non-negotiable for Saskatchewan. Renewables have a place and a critical one. There’s no point in burning expensive fuel just for fun. When the sun shines and wind blows we should make hay (well, power) and when it doesn’t, reliable on Canadian natural gas and Saskatchewan uranium.”
No Aleana, that’s wrong. This is why the NDP is just Sask Party-lite. Nuclear for Saskatchewan is an economic stake through our heart. You think tens of billions for coal is bad? Nuclear will cost twice as much, and take twice as long to build and decommission too.
Building new gas in 2026 is nearing insanity. It was maybe a good idea 25 years ago, but it hasn’t been for quite some time.
