NDP would build more renewable power, but need all the above

Brian Zinchuk

Brian Zinchuk is editor and owner of Pipeline Online

NDP Leader and Leader of the Opposition Carla Beck, speaking about power production on May 17. Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan

REGINA – Saskatchewan’s New Democratic Party may have voted unanimously with the Saskatchewan Party on supporting its plan to continue using fossil fuels for power generation, phasing them out much more slowly than the federal government is calling for. Saskatchewan says it will aim for net zero greenhouse gas emissions from power generation by 2050, while the feds want it in just 12 years – 2035.

But that doesn’t mean they’re in agreement on much of how we get there. They would build more renewable power generation, for instance.

NDP Leader and Leader of the Opposition Carla Beck tweeted the following statement on May 17:

Back in 2006, Saskatchewan was leading the nation in energy diversification and bringing on renewable assets to our grid. But after 16 years of Sask. Party mismanagement, SaskPower is now losing money for the first time in a generation, and we’ve fallen a decade behind other provinces when it comes to our energy infrastructure.

Both our Energy Critic and I have travelled the province and have met with SaskPower officials to discuss the state of our grid after 16 years of Sask. Party mismanagement. As a province, we’re way behind other jurisdictions. What more can we expect from a government that when asked about rising emissions responds with “I don’t care.”

In the 2020 election, we committed to achieving 50 per cent of our power generation from renewable and other non-emitting sources by 2030. We’ll get it done using Saskatchewan-based resources to create thousands of Saskatchewan-based jobs.

I promise that we will work to diversify our grid and achieve net zero as fast as we can but we will not do so on the backs of working families who are already dealing with rising costs and utility rates due to 16 years of Sask. Party mismanagement.

In her speech on May 17, Beck said, “it’s clear that this tired and out-of-touch government is not going to get us there either, because while other provinces took steps years ago, the Sask Party government has been completely missing in action when it comes to expanding renewables at SaskPower. This government killed the
solar industry through its changes to net metering and has only expanded the capacity of renewables at SaskPower from 25 per cent to 31 per cent over the last decade.

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“The inaction has also caused uncertainty when it comes to investment and when it comes to good-paying jobs here in this province. There is no denying climate change. There’s no denying that climate change is real, and we will not be immune from the impacts of climate change. And if members on that side do not believe that, they certainly have not found the courage to say that publicly.

“But this uncertainty ensures that there is impact to those who work and live in this province, to those who work in places like Estevan, and those who look to invest here. We’ve heard that time and time again across the province, and we certainly heard that when I met with SaskPower officials and travelled to Estevan with the member from Regina University to discuss the current grid infrastructure as well as the challenges and opportunities ahead. And we also heard that from workers, about the uncertainty that they faced over the last decade. And that brings us to today. Would have net zero by 2035 been possible with a different provincial government committed to emissions reductions over the last 16 years? Probably. But because of the Sask Party inaction for the last 16 years, that isn’t an achievable goal for this province today. But it’s clear that that Premier doesn’t want to plan as much as he wants a sound bite and the people of this province deserve better.

“Should we be given the privilege to form government in 2024, we would have to work with the reality of the Sask Party’s failures to plan for the last 16 years. We should absolutely strive to achieve net zero in our energy production as quickly as possible, but it needs to be done in a way that recognizes the reality of our province and ensures good jobs going into the future. And we will certainly be bound by the failures of that government over the last 16 years.”

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NDP Energy Critic Aleana Young. Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan

NDP Energy Critic Aleana Young said, “For the members opposite, you know, using finger quotes to refer to climate change as science, or making baseless personal attacks because they don’t like to hear the words “climate change” said in this Assembly, an energy project is an energy project is an energy project. Jobs are jobs are jobs for the people in those communities, whether they are building solar plants outside of Estevan, whether they’re mining coal, whether they’re building and operating windmills, whether they’re working at a natural gas plant, whether they’re building innovations in geothermal like we’re seeing here in Regina. An energy project is an energy project is an energy project, and the members on that side would be well reminded of that.

“So this is, you know . . . And the minister said this is an issue far too important for rhetoric or for politics. And, Mr. Speaker, that is a view that we share, and that’s a position we have taken repeatedly on this file because, as the Leader of the Opposition said, energy security, power generation, climate change, labour market development, good jobs for Saskatchewan people who want to work with their hands. This is the opportunity and the challenge of the 21st century for this province, and we are uniquely challenged within Canada by our power makeup, and that is a unique opportunity.”

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Young continued, “And on this file, it is too important for rhetoric. It is too important for the cheap politics that the members opposite, with 16 years in government, still seem to rely on because they can’t defend their own shameful record. What we need are adults in the room, people who are going to put the interests of this province ahead of their own personal, petty, vindictive, anti-science, partisan views.

“What we need is an all-of-the-above approach when it comes to power generation, when it comes to jobs, when it comes to the economy, when it comes to an approach to dealing with climate change. And Saskatchewan has a proud history of innovation, of bootstrapping, of ingenuity. But again all we see out of this government is cheap politics and not even particularly creative rhetoric. And what a tacky and shoddy way to run a government, and a tacky and shoddy way to try and position themself as leaders.”

She added, “Let’s talk about reliability, because yes, there are challenges when it comes to Saskatchewan’s power makeup. Yes, we need reliable baseload power, and that is going to be a challenge for us. And no, renewables are not going to be the silver bullet to provide that for us. They can help. We’ve got intermittent power needs as well.”

“And this is a government that has put us nearly two decades behind every other jurisdiction in Canada. You look west to Alberta where they are powering up to be a green energy powerhouse in Canada. And again Saskatchewan, under the leadership and guidance of the people opposite, are going to be left empty-handed. We are going to lose labour, we are going to lose investment, and we are going to lose people.

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“So, I would ask, when it comes to reliable baseload, let’s judge the government, let’s judge the members opposite by their actions. And their actions to date are slow-walking SMRs [small modular reactor] as they say, yes, we’re consulting. Yes, we’re potentially going forward with this but it’s a real decision. We haven’t already made a choice. We’re not spending $120, $140 million to, you know, consult.”

Young said, “And on the issue of climate change, if there is a person in this province who believes that this is a government who takes that seriously, I’ve got a bridge in P.A. to sell you. Because sustainability and green power generation is not just an opportunity for sneers and derision from the members opposite. The minister and the Premier well know this is a matter of jobs. This is about firing up entrepreneurship, innovation, good union
jobs which people can be proud of, supporting workers.

“The coal transition centre in Estevan has no funding. The doors are closing next month. Well I guess problem solved, guys. This is a government who’s done nothing to secure supply chains, who’s doing nothing to keep that skilled labour force we need for this transition here in Saskatchewan. And again, they might laugh. They might sneer. They might stomp around in the legislature any time the issue of sustainability or renewables comes up. But again, an energy project is an energy project, and that generates electricity in Saskatchewan, jobs for
Saskatchewan people, and an economic future.”

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