Saskatchewan aims to get half its power from renewable energy by 2030
Premier Brad Wall says more wind, hydro and solar projects coming
Saskatchewan's Premier says in 15 years, the province will generate half of its power from renewable energy.
"I think that's achievable and that's what we're going to be moving towards," Brad Wall told reporters at the Legislature on Wednesday.
A target of 50 per cent renewable energy by 2030 is more than twice the amount of electricity SaskPower can generate from renewable sources such as wind and hydro right now.
Brad Wall says the government's power company will release further details next week, but the boost will come primarily from solar, wind and some geothermal projects.
Wall says the biggest change will be in the number of small, solar projects on homes.
We want it to be greater and we need it to be greater because as you know we have high emissions per capita in this province.- Premier Brad Wall
"We just think because of the advancements in renewable technologies, the mix towards renewables can be much greater," Wall said.
"We want it to be greater and we need it to be greater because as you know we have high emissions per capita in this province."
The Opposition NDP notes it proposed the exact same target in legislation it proposed in the spring sitting of the Legislature, but the government did not support it.
Opposition remains doubtful
Opposition leader Cam Broten says it is a good goal, if the government follows through on its promise.
"But I'll believe it when I see it," Broten said.
"You know, I want to see progress. This is the type of target that we outlined, that we said that we should be going towards and so what will really be required are the actions to make it become a reality."
Broten says the government has wasted a lot of time and money on carbon capture technology that is not working as well as expected.
Wall says that technology is still important, as Saskatchewan will require that kind of baseload power. "Which is natural gas, and it's coal and it's hydro," he said.
Wall says SaskPower is planning a detailed announcement on renewable energy for next Monday.