Better alternatives in Sask. than nuclear, Greens assert
Alongside her federal counterpart, provincial Green party Leader Naomi Hunter called on the government to scrap its small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) plan and replace it with what she believes would be better alternatives.
With solar and wind energy already available, Hunter told reporters on Monday the province's plan for SMRS is costly and would take too long to develop.
“They claim that this is because they suddenly care about the climate crisis and are looking for solutions,” Hunter said of the provincial government.
“If that was the case, we would be installing immediate solutions of green energy: solar, wind, geothermal.
“This province has the best solar gain in all of Canada and we have some of the best opportunities for wind energy.”
In late March, the province mapped out a plan for SMRS that could see the first reactor operational by 2034, costing as much as $5 billion.
SMRS are smaller than typical power plants and can be deployed and scaled-up more readily.
The province has pegged the plan as one that addresses climate change while also growing the economy.
Don Morgan, minister responsible for Saskpower, told reporters that while he appreciates the Greens for wanting more wind and solar, they don't meet the criteria for base load power.
He said Saskpower has added roughly 370 megawatts of wind energy and plan to add 100 megawatts of solar.
“We certainly want to have a blend as we go forward, but our goal is to have good, strong, reliable base load power,” Morgan said.
Federal interim Green party leader Amita Kuttner said base load power can be found from other sources, like geothermal and battery storage.
“There are other ways to cover down the road, and there are absolutely places,” they said.
Morgan said geothermal energy could be considered base load, but “the science and technology isn't there yet.”
“There's certainly some potential not there right now,” he said.
Hunter said establishing SMRS would be a carbon-intensive process, arguing it would take longer for those emissions to be offset once a plant is operational.
She added she also has concerns about micro-smrs being used in remote communities and how they will be monitored should a safety issue arise.
“We do not have the time for fairy tales that take us far into the future,” she said. “We don't have 10 years to come up with a solution. (Premier) Scott Moe and the Sask. Party, they're just kicking the climate crisis down the road like they always do.”
The province has said the industry is regulated by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, a body that it says ensures top safety. Ontario has used nuclear power for 70 years.
The regulator is looking at storing the waste at one of two locations in Ontario.
Morgan has said it's critical people feel comfortable with the process as the province begins consultations over SMRS.
No decisions have yet been made on SMRS, he said, adding that questions over cost are important.
“At the same time, we want to do things to reduce emissions,” Morgan said, adding Saskpower is ahead of its goals on reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2030.
The province has not yet determined where a new reactor would be located but it aims to have a site selected by 2023.
Kuttner proposed Saskatchewan could help foster the development of smaller electrical grids run by communities. These community grids would work with Saskpower, they added.
Morgan said communities can enter into power purchasing agreements with Saskpower should they want to provide solar and wind energy.