SaskPower sets 50% renewable energy goal
Coal, natural gas capacity drops while green energy to double in 15 years
SaskPower plans to double its renewable generating capacity in the next 15 years, turning mainly to wind, solar and geothermal.
The move will lower coal and natural gas from 72 per cent of the current mix down to 50 per cent, and boost wind from five to 30 per cent.
When the Crown corporation’s announcement was scooped by Premier Brad Wall last week, he was light on details about how SaskPower would meet the goal.
Beyond the numbers, so too was SaskPower on Monday morning, admitting the renewable-energy picture could change in the future.
Still, a large part of it will be wind. Even the controversial Chaplin wind project — smack dab in the middle of five noted bird reserves — was a part of the plan, although it’s in the midst of an environmental review.
Chaplin will likely open in 2017 or 2018, though the minister responsible for SaskPower, Bill Boyd, said the facility “may be moved back a little” from its planned location.
That would please Trevor Herriott, who wants an independent third party to examine wind-farm sites in the province, saying, “If there’s to be more wind, we have to do that first before just putting them up willy nilly.”
SaskPower president Mike Marsh said those consultations will happen over the next 15 years.
A glance through SaskPower’s news release finds the renewables announcement littered with words like “target,” “potential,” “explore” and “effort.” In other words, 50 per cent is simply a goal, not a hardand-fast commitment.
That’s probably a smart move, particularly after the Crown landed in hot water when its Boundary Dam carbon-capture targets were revealed to be way off what was actually being caught at the plant near Estevan; as Boyd said, “In hindsight, being firm in some of these areas is a little bit difficult to achieve at times.”
The numbers presented by SaskPower refer to generating capacity. That means that although it aims to have the infrastructure in place for half of Saskatchewan’s power to come from renewable sources by 2030, renewable power generation may not end up being that high.
“If the wind is blowing and the sun is shining at the same time, we’ll be able to generate every megawatt we can from” wind and solar power, Marsh said, the problem is that “solar and wind are both intermittent renewables.”
“That’s why we’re building them in as we build the base load generation and build in hydro opportunities,” he said. “We have (to) ... make sure the energy is there for our customers when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow.”
Reaction to the announcement was positive from those in the renewable energy sector — a new industry association even sprang up on Monday.
Called the Saskatchewan Renewables Industries Association, it aims to act as a kind of bridge between SaskPower, government and businesses offering renewable options.
Interim chair Curtis Olson is happy with the 50-per-cent goal, saying, “Regardless of whether it’s generating capacity or actual power generated, it’s still a major change in energy policy for Saskatchewan.”
Saskatchewan Community Wind’s James Glennie recently told the Regina Leader-Post he’d believe in Saskatchewan’s investment in wind power only when he sees it, but seemed pleased with Monday’s announcement.
“The important thing is that by putting these numbers out there, they’re saying we have a worldclass resource,” he said.
“I get the impression (SaskPower) is ushering in a new era and is now taking renewables seriously.”
Those who might not have such a great outlook on the plan — coal workers and the cities and small towns in southeastern Saskatchewan who depend on them — could not be contacted for comment Monday.
Rick Dowhaniuk, president of the United Mine Workers of America Local 7606, which represents coal miners in the region, said backing off from coal could impact his members, but he wanted to see more details before commenting further.