Letters: Government dismisses clean energy potential in Saskatchewan

Phil Tank, Saskatoon StarPhoenix - 

© Provided by Star PhoenixCrown Investments (CIC) Minister and Minister Responsible for SaskPower Don Morgan, Minister of Energy in Ontario, Todd Smith and Minister of Energy, Alberta, Sonya Savage speak at a news conference to launch the Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Strategic Plan on Monday, March 28, 2022 in Regina. KAYLE NEIS / Regina Leader-Post

Renewables support a fantasy in Sask.

Recently, the Saskatchewan government announced that it plans to generate 60 per cent of the province’s power from solar, wind and geothermal by 2034. To this end, the Moe government has agreed to provide generous incentives to individuals and companies wishing to sell renewable power to the grid.

Also, the Moe government has decided to support the federal plan to build a cross-country energy grid. When transmission lines to Manitoba are completed in 2034, Saskatchewan will purchase enough green hydroelectric power that coal and natural gas will no longer be needed.

These initiatives will not only position Saskatchewan as a leader in the transition from fossil fuels, but will create thousands of good-paying jobs.

But, of course, the above is a fantasy. The current Saskatchewan government does not appear to be interested in renewable energy.

Instead of investing in cost-effective renewables and green energy from Manitoba, this government has decided to spend some $20 billion on four yet-to-be-developed and untried small nuclear reactors.

Meanwhile, in the U.K. the government is moving swiftly to invest in renewables and to use storage batteries to guarantee a base load when needed. Germany has been encouraging the development of renewables for several decades.

Saskatchewan, along with Alberta, has the greatest potential in Canada to generate renewable power and certainly very much greater than the U.K. or Germany. In Alberta, private companies are moving ahead to capture this potential because it makes economic sense.

Here, SaskPower, tied to the Moe government’s agenda, appears unwilling to take renewables seriously.

Paul Wilkinson

Saskatoon