Saskatchewan says achieving carbon neutrality by 2035 would cost $40 billion

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This approach by Ottawa is “unaffordable, unconstitutional and unworkable,” says the Saskatchewan government. (Archive photo)

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The Government of Saskatchewan says that Ottawa's plan to make Canada's electricity grid carbon neutral by 2035 would cost the province $40 billion and result in job losses.

According to the Minister responsible for SaskPower, Dustin Duncan, this approach by the federal government is unaffordable, unconstitutional and technologically and logistically unfeasible.

The proposed Clean electricity regulations will jeopardize the reliability of Saskatchewan's electricity grid and increase electricity rates, making them unaffordable, Duncan criticized in a press release released Tuesday.

The minister responsible for SaskPower, Dustin Duncan. (File photo)

The Saskatchewan government says electricity rates could more than double by 2035 to offset expenses related to federal coal regulations, according to SaskPower estimates.

The province estimates that to meet federal requirements, SaskPower would need to increase, replace and rebuild more than 100% of its current electricity generation capacity within 11 years, while also undertaking a significant expansion of its network. /p>

Dustin Duncan estimates that in addition to a bill “of around $40 billion,” hundreds of employees SaskPower workers would lose their jobs if the province moves forward with the federal plan.

Last May, the Saskatchewan government unveiled its plan to make the province's electricity distribution network greener by 2050, 15 years later than the target set by Ottawa.

The federal Clean Electricity Regulation requires that all electricity generated come from renewable sources, such as hydroelectricity and wind power, or that facilities are equipped to capture carbon.

For his part, the federal Minister of the Environment, Steven Guilbeault, has previously stated that he wants to work with the provinces to achieve these objectives. He also rejected claims that the federal plan entails unaffordable costs.

With information from The Canadian Press< /p>

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