Op-Ed

An op-ed, short for “opposite the editorial page”, is a written prose piece, which expresses the opinion of an author usually not affiliated with the publication’s editorial board.

From left, Minister of Highways Dave Marit, MLA for Wood River; Crown Investments Corporation Minister Jeremy Harrison at Poplar River Power Station on Jan. 15. Photo submitted

SaskPower to examine long-term continued operation of Poplar River and Boundary Dam Units 4, 5 and 6

Editor’s note: Crown Investments Corporation Minister Jeremy Harrison was in Coronach on Jan. 15 and in Estevan Jan. 16, talking to coal workers. Here’s an op-ed he submitted to Pipeline Online about the message he told those workers. Fundamentally, Saskatchewan is looking to run conventional coal well past the federal deadline of 2030, and in so doing, securing the futures of Estevan and Coronach for years to come.

By Jeremy Harrison

Across the country and indeed the world, there is a growing uncertainty around the future of power production. In Saskatchewan we are working hard to provide that certainty based on two primary lenses:  affordability and reliability.

The question that is informing our decisions is a simple one: does our path keep your costs as low as possible and does it keep your lights on?

The province has already invested substantially into solar, wind, biomass, and natural gas generation along with planning and exploration for nuclear power which we see as being a central part of our long-term future.

But, we need to get there first. And that is why reliable baseload power generation is integral as we bridge to that nuclear future. Our strategy must take an all-of-the above approach for power production and that includes coal.

SaskPower is now looking seriously at extending the life of Boundary Dam Power Station’s Units 4, 5 and 6, in addition to Unit 3, with an eye to decades of continued operation. Photo by Brian Zinchuk

And make no mistake, the provincial government believes there is a future for coal.  We have already announced that both Boundary Dam Unit 3, and Shand Power Station will continue to operate as long they are viable.  In the case of Shand until at least 2042.  SaskPower is currently seriously examining whether to extend the operating lives of other coal generation units at Boundary Dam and Poplar River.  I recently toured both of those facilities and committed to employees that we will have firm answers by summer as to what this future looks like.

Electricity generation is exclusively within our constitutional authority as a province, and it is imperative that we maintain a reliable and affordable power supply to support our regional needs and growth.

Saskatchewan has the resources, expertise, and proximity to be at the centre of North American energy security.  We are going to fully and unapologetically utilize our natural blessings to ensure we realize our full potential.

Jeremy Harrison is Saskatchewan’s Crown Investments Minister, which includes SaskPower, SaskEnergy, SaskTel, SGI and more. 

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