Saskatchewan Extends Life of Coal-Fired Power Plants, Disputing Federal Jurisdiction

Strategic Insights -

As Saskatchewan faces unprecedented demand growth for power, the provincial government has decided to extend the life of its coal-fired power plants, arguing that Ottawa does not have jurisdiction over electricity generation. The decision comes in the face of a federal deadline to phase out coal-fired power plants by 2030, which the province claims it cannot meet due to constitutional limitations. The move has sparked controversy, with experts calling for a more rapid transition to cleaner energy sources.

Key Takeaways:

  • Saskatchewan's coal-fired power plants will continue to operate beyond the 2030 deadline, with the province citing provincial jurisdiction over power generation as the reason.
  • The province generates 26% of Canada's electricity emissions, despite producing only 4% of the country's power.
  • The federal Clean Electricity Regulations, which aim to limit greenhouse-gas emissions from provinces' electricity grids, were challenged by the province, which found that they would cost $7.1-billion in economic growth.
  • The Saskatchewan government has added hundreds of megawatts of new renewable power generation, natural gas plants, and biomass to its grid since 2016.
  • About 30% of Saskatchewan's electricity comes from its three coal-fired power stations.
  • The province will investigate the viability of additional carbon capture and storage technology on its coal-fired power plants.
  • Roughly 100 years' supply of coal is buried beneath the province, much of it close to the power plants in the southeast.

Statistics:

  • 26%: the proportion of Canada's electricity emissions generated by Saskatchewan.
  • 4%: the proportion of Canada's power produced by Saskatchewan.
  • $7.1-billion: the estimated cost of the federal Clean Electricity Regulations to Saskatchewan's economy.
  • 2030: the original deadline for phasing out coal-fired power plants, which the province claims it cannot meet.

Sources:

  • The Globe and Mail
  • SaskPower (via internal letter from Minister Jeremy Harrison)
  • Pembina Institute (via e-mail from Scott MacDougall)