Saskatoon power plant generates debate

The pros and cons of a proposed hydroelectric power plant for Saskatoon sparked considerable debate during a public meeting.

About 140 people were on hand Tuesday evening to learn about the development.

The city is considering adding an electric generating facility to a weir on the South Saskatchewan River. Officials say the project would be good for the environment and could pay for itself after about 12 years.

It would cost an estimated $58 million to install.

The facility could generate up to 47.5 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year, enough power for an estimated 4,800 homes. It has also been touted as a source of power for a city recreational water park.

"The most important thing to me is to find out is this a good idea for the people of Saskatoon?" Shannon Heincke, one of the people who attended the meeting, told CBC News. "I think it is. I think it has a lot of opportunities involved with it, based on environment and tourism and leisure for the people in Saskatoon."

Not everyone was convinced that the city's numbers add up.

"They've overstated the benefits and they've understated the costs," Spencer Early told CBC News.

The city is a long way from making a decision on the concept.

The next step would be to commission feasibility studies and a full environmental impact survey, which could cost between $2 million and $4 million.