On Wednesday, Federal Environment Secretary Steven Guilbeault said it was illegal for Saskatchewan to continue operating its coal-fired power plants beyond 2030.
According to Ottawa, coal-fired power plants would then have to be shut down or a CO2 capture system set up.
We governed the coal ban through the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, a punitive instrument available to the federal government. Failure to comply with these regulations would therefore constitute a violation of Canada’s Criminal Code, Steven Guilbeault said.
When asked about the potential legal ramifications of operating coal-fired power plants beyond 2030, Prime Minister Scott Moe denied the federal minister’s statements.
“If individuals in this or any other province are risking jail time by turning on their lights or stove fans, then come and get me. »
– A quote from Scott Moe, Prime Minister of Saskatchewan
Currently, 65% of the province’s power generation capacity comes from natural gas (40%) and coal (25%). Scott Moe therefore believes that it is not possible to meet federal emissions targets.
Here in Saskatchewan, we stand for reliable and affordable energy. None of this is foreseen in the federal plan.
Saskatchewan is instead proposing to achieve carbon neutrality in 2050, 15 years after the federal target, according to the province’s electricity production plan unveiled on Tuesday.
We plan to operate our fossil fuel power generation assets to the end of their useful lives. “As a province, we reserve the right to make that decision,” Scott Moe said Tuesday.
He also stressed that power generation is a provincial responsibility and expressed no concerns about a possible litigation.
In Saskatchewan, only Boundary Dam 3 has carbon capture and sequestration technology.
Photo: The Canadian Press/Michael Bell
The federal government enacted regulations in 2018 calling for the shutdown of coal-fired power plants by the end of 2029 unless they are equipped with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology.
In Saskatchewan, only Boundary Dam 3 is equipped with this technology.
The Poplar River coal-fired power station is scheduled to end of life in 2030, while the Shand power station is scheduled to close in 2042.
SaskPower also said the natural gas facilities have a lifespan of 45 years, while Boundary Dam 3 is expected to end in 2044.
In 2019, the Saskatchewan government announced that it had no plans to retrofit its other coal-fired power plants with CCS.
“I understand the rationale for greening the power grid, but you also have to understand the reality of greening the power grid,” says Scott Moe.
For her part, opposition leader Carla Beck called on the government to make significant investments to ensure reliable, affordable and sustainable energy and capitalize on the economic opportunities of green jobs.
With information from Adam Hunter