Murray Wood: Sask. farmers pay the price for Ottawa's gopher ban
Gophers are chewing through crops and profits, and farmers blame Ottawa's strychnine ban. They say the damage is out of ...
Projects ranging from a spray park in Turtleford to solar projects near Regina and Weyburn are receiving funding from the federal and provincial governments.
More than $53 million is being injected into the 24 projects, which include recreational and green infrastructure improvements.
The recreation projects include upgrades to swimming pools, skating and curling rinks, and parks.
The largest investment by the feds — $13 million — is going to SaskPower for a battery energy storage system, which is to be built in northeast Regina. SaskPower is to put up the other $13 million.
According to a media release, the project “will help balance the power system during power demand spikes and support intermittent generation options such as wind and solar.”
The system, which could provide power to up to 20,000 homes for one hour, is expected to be complete by the end of 2022.
The federal government also is putting up $3.5 million to supplement the Cowessess First Nation’s investment of about $1.2 million in the Awasis Solar Project near Regina. The Pesâkâstêw Solar Project near Weyburn is getting the same amount of funding.
The federal government and SaskPower each are paying another $3.4 million to connect those projects to the provincial electrical grid.
Other projects being funded include improving wastewater infrastructure and landfills.
The Government of Canada is investing more than $31.1 million in the projects, with the province providing more than $22.7 million. Funding by municipalities or recipients totals more than $7.2 million.
“From swimming pools to solar projects, the Government of Canada is taking actions to support families, businesses, and the economy in Saskatchewan and across the country now, so that we can build resilient communities for years to come,” Jim Carr, the prime minister’s special representative for the Prairies, said in the release.
“The funding announced today will help communities build back better, create jobs, and build cleaner, more inclusive communities.”
