Feds helping build Saskatchewan’s new electricity grid

Regina – In the 21st century, a reliable and affordable clean electricity grid is the backbone of a strong economy. Today, more than 80% of Canada’s electricity is generated from clean sources like hydropower, wind, solar, and nuclear—and it’s a big part of the reason why companies are choosing to invest in Canadian workers and business. In Saskatchewan, companies like Jansen, which mines potash, are cleaning their operations and meeting global potash demand. By taking action to expand clean power, new economic opportunities are being unlocked while workers and families can get ahead with lower energy bills. As we build more power to meet our growing energy needs, lower power rates are front and centre.

Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced a suite of over $265 million job-creating investments into SaskPower and Saskatchewan clean electricity projects to address our shared priorities and build a clean future.

Investing to build more renewable power

The Government of Canada’s Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program (SREPs) is delivering over $12 million in job-creating federal investments for local and Indigenous-led renewable power projects, including:

• Over $2.7 million for the 1.4-megawatt Cosette Solar Project in Estevan, owned in part by White Bear First Nations
• Nearly $2.7 million for the one-megawatt NM Solar Project in Lomond No. 37, owned in part by White Bear First Nations
• $2 million for the 100-megawatt Prairie Coast Solar Project in Lajord
• Over $1.8 million for the one-megawatt Kiyam Solar Project near Gladmar, partly owned by Mistawasis Nêhiyawak First Nation
• Over $1.8 million for the one-megawatt Iskotew Solar Project near Alsask, partly owned by Mistawasis Nêhiyawak First Nation. Over $1.3 million for the 500-kilowatt (AC) La Plonge Solar Project with English River First Nation

Once fully completed, these solar projects would provide electricity equivalent to powering nearly 20,000 homes every year—more than Saskatchewan’s third-largest city, Prince Albert. To date, this federal fund has delivered over $90 million in support for job-creating clean power projects across Saskatchewan, primarily with Indigenous partners. These projects will enable local economic growth and deliver clean, affordable energy to communities while advancing economic reconciliation, and we will continue to work with the people of Saskatchewan to ensure future power demand is met with clean, affordable, and reliable energy.

Modernizing and upgrading Saskatchewan’s grid

The Government of Canada’s Future Electricity Fund is transferring over $256.7 million to SaskPower for a range of job-creating, clean power projects, which will grow and modernize the provincial energy grid while getting costs down for ratepayers and driving reliability. Through the fund, Indigenous clean energy projects will receive $42 million. This includes:

• Nearly $70 million for over 6,000 km of critical rural power line reliability upgrades, including replacement of aging installations and system upgrades.
• Over $55 million for a 60 megawatt/60-megawatt hours battery storage system and associated technologies to help manage peak demand and integrate renewables.
• Nearly $80 million for a new substation and two 240-kilowatt transmission lines connecting the province to the Southwest Power Pool in the United States, facilitating 500 megawatts of additional transmission service.
• Over $9 million to support consumer and household energy efficiency programs, including SaskPower’s new Energy Efficiency Discount Program that helps pay for ENERGY STAR appliances, home insulation, and other cost-saving measures for families.
• Over $20 million to help retrofit Northern First Nations’ homes and help new buildings achieve higher cost-saving energy efficiency performance standards.
• Over $5 million to develop power generation in remote and northern communities, while replacing aging distribution infrastructure.
• Nearly $14 million to add 400 megawatts of wind power and 300 megawatts of solar generation in south-central Saskatchewan by 2027. So far, a portion of this funding has been allocated to support the implementation of a 200-megawatt wind facility project partnership between Innagreen Investments and Awasis Nehiyawewini Energy Development Limited and a 100-megawatt solar project partnership between Iyuhána Solar LP and Ocean Man First Nation.
• And additional investments to train more Indigenous power line technicians alongside the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies.

As demand for electricity grows, the opportunity to power our communities and the world with clean, affordable, and reliable power is a win-win-win—for workers, for affordability, and for the environment. The Government of Canada’s plan is working to drive greenhouse gas pollution down while the economy grows and inflation cools. Together, with provinces and territories, Indigenous peoples, municipalities, industry, and workers, the Government of Canada is seizing the opportunity ahead to build a strong economy with good-paying sustainable jobs, low energy bills, and to ensure a healthy environment for our children and grandchildren.