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3mo ago

Saskatchewan Extends Coal Plant Lifespans to Bridge Toward Nuclear Generation

The province says its constitutional authority allows life-extension work alongside carbon capture exploration despite federal clean electricity rules.

The SaskPower Shand Power Station, pictured in 2008, is one of three coal-fired power stations that produce about 30% of Saskatchewan’s electricity.
The Boundary Dam near Estevan, SK is one of the assets listed to have its life extended by the provincial government.
Saskatchewan Party MLA Jeremy Harrison.
Work to restore service at Boundary Dam 4 in Estevan is set to begin this year, Crown Investments Corporation Minister Jeremy Harrison wrote in a letter distributed to all SaskEnergy employees on Wednesday.

Overview

  • SaskPower will extend up to 1,500 megawatts of coal-fired capacity with Boundary Dam recertification work starting this year.
  • Minister Jeremy Harrison cited provincial jurisdiction over electricity to reject the federal Clean Electricity Regulations.
  • The government will investigate additional carbon capture and storage technology at its three coal stations.
  • Saskatchewan plans a small modular nuclear reactor by the mid-2030s, studying the Estevan area for a potential site.
  • The province targets a net-zero electricity grid by 2050 while using its coal reserves to ensure reliability and affordability.