SaskPower getting $4.75M from feds to modernize grid

SaskPower is getting help from the federal government to upgrade its aging electrical grid.

Canada’s Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi announced $4.75M in funding to modernize the grid, adding equipment to remotely operate the network from the Provincial Distribution Control Centre.

“This is part of our government’s broader plan of making sure that energy remains affordable, that energy remains reliable for Canadians,” Sohi said.

This upgrade will increase the overall efficiency of the grid, enabling SaskPower to track and respond to outages more quickly, reduce voltage usage and integrate renewable power sources like wind and solar.

Saskatchewan’s Environment Minister Dustin Duncan explained it’s another step toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 40 per cent by 2030.

“This, in and of itself, doesn’t reduce greenhouse gas emissions but it helps us manage the system as we bring more of those renewables onto the grid,” Duncan said.

This federal funding comes just days after the Liberal government announced how it plans to impose the carbon tax on Saskatchewan, sparking more criticism and rhetoric from Duncan and the premier.

Duncan said Friday’s announcement shows there are many areas where both levels of government agree and can work together on.

“Where we can work with the federal government, we certainly want to and we appreciate when the federal government reaches out and we can find areas of common ground,” Duncan said.

Minister Sohi echoed Duncan’s comments calling Ottawa’s relationship with Saskatchewan “very productive” despite differing views on putting a price on pollution. He also acknowledged Saskatchewan’s Prairie Resilience Climate Change Strategy.

“We also recognize the good work that the province of Saskatchewan is doing by putting a price on pollution on large industrial emitters,” Sohi said.