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Saskatchewan\u2019s government is planning to extend the life of the province\u2019s coal plants before moving to nuclear power generation, says a letter from the Crown Investments Corporation Minister.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n <\/span>or<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n Jeremy Harrison wrote to SaskPower employees Wednesday that the decision will maintain jobs and meet growing demand, while keeping electricity affordable and reliable.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n Harrison did not provide details on the costs of the plan or timelines, but wrote the province will explore the viability of adding carbon capture units.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cSaskPower will be life extending up to approximately 1500 MW of coal assets,\u201d he wrote. \u201cOther jurisdictions around the world are refurbishing coal plants that are many times that size.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n The province already operates a carbon capture unit at the Boundary Dam Power Station, which has sometimes struggled to meet emissions reduction targets.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n SaskPower, the province\u2019s electrical utility, operates three coal-fired plants and some units were scheduled to go offline in the coming years.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI know that the hard-working teams in these facilities have been subject to considerable uncertainty,\u201d Harrison wrote.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cSaskatchewan people own our coal resource, which we are blessed with in enormous quantities. The certainty and security of coal means that it will continue as a pillar of our electrical generation system as we bridge to a nuclear future powered by Saskatchewan uranium.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n SaskPower is planning to build a small modular nuclear reactor by the mid-2030s. The Crown corporation is studying the Estevan area, southeast of Regina, for a potential site to build the plant.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n In 2019, Saskatchewan signed a deal with Ottawa recognizing some coal units could run beyond the phaseout deadline of 2030.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n Harrison argued Saskatchewan has constitutional authority over electricity generation.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cWe have also been clear that we do not recognize the legitimacy of the federal clean electricity regulations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n The regulations aim to limit emissions from provinces\u2019 electricity grids. A tribunal struck by Saskatchewan found the rules would cost the province billions of dollars in economic growth and result in job losses.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n The federal environment ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n Article content<\/p>\n Harrison wrote Saskatchewan still plans to meet net-zero targets by 2050. Wind and solar energy are also part of the province\u2019s electricity mix, he added.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n![\"bitcoins](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/19.3.2\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-ssp-new.svg\" "\\"bitcoins\\""){kind=logo}
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