Earlier this week, Saskatchewan’s Minister responsible for SaskPower requested a delay to the Trudeau government’s goal of creating a net zero power grid by 2035. Dustin Duncan argued that the goals were impossible for Saskatchewan to achieve.

However, the Trudeau government has denied Duncan’s request.

In his statement, Duncan (pictured above) mentioned factors such as infrastructure costs, grid limitations, and a lack of reliable technology, like small modular reactors (SMRs) and carbon capture for natural gas.

SaskPower estimates that fulfilling the emission standards as proposed would require a $40 billion investment. Saskatchewan’s power system heavily relies on fossil fuels.

In response, Trudeau’s environment minister Steven Guilbeault asserted that the 2035 net zero goal is achievable for Saskatchewan. Guilbeault highlighted the province’s potential for nuclear, wind, and solar power, as well as its expertise in carbon capture technologies.

Duncan emphasized that the main challenge lies in making investment decisions for new facilities without a concrete guarantee of the effectiveness of new technologies like carbon capture for natural gas. There’s also no assurance that these facilities will be allowed to operate beyond 2035.

Guilbeault’s office emphasized that transitioning away from coal and natural gas will not result in job losses for workers in Saskatchewan, nor will there be an abrupt shutdown of fossil fuel sources. The statement emphasized that no immediate closure is planned for natural gas plants.

According to the draft regulations, fossil fuel plants are guaranteed a 20-year lifespan from their opening date, even without carbon capture technology. This will allow operation beyond 2035. Additionally, there will be a seven-year transition period until 2042, during which carbon capture requirements will be reduced from 95% to 90%.

Guilbeault’s office stated that carbon capture technology has been successfully tested, meeting the 90% to 95% capture requirements. Even within Saskatchewan, the Boundary Dam Power Station has been proven to capture 90% of the emissions generated from the nearby coal-fired plant.

According to the Regina Leader-Post, both wind and solar power will be cheaper than gas power in Canada by 2030. Wind power will be 40% cheaper than gas power, while solar power will be 16% cheaper.

Globally, solar costs are expected to decline over 50% between now and 2050 due to improved technology.

Saskatchewan is not the only province resisting Trudeau’s net zero target. Alberta premier Danielle Smith has also expressed strong opposition to the proposal. Many analysts believe that Smith implemented Alberta’s ongoing sixth-month renewable energy moratorium to make it more difficult for Trudeau’s net zero proposal to succeed.

Image Source: John Cairns