Saskatchewan – Proceeds that have been collected through the federal industrial pollution pricing system are being put to work around the country to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. Today, the Government of Canada announced that eight projects in Saskatchewan will receive a total of over $256.7 million through the Future Electricity Fund. Indigenous clean energy projects will receive $42 million as a part of this funding announcement.
The federal Output-Based Pricing System collects a price on pollution from covered industries and returns proceeds to their jurisdictions of origin. These proceeds flow through the Output-Based Pricing System Proceeds Fund, which has two program streams: the Decarbonization Incentive Program, and the Future Electricity Fund. Through its major crown utility SaskPower, Saskatchewan will be administering funds under the Future Electricity Fund in support of the following projects:
- Rural Underground Distribution Mitigation Program ($69.9 million): SaskPower will use program funding to rebuild aging underground rural electrical distribution infrastructure and increase the distribution system’s capacity in various locations across rural Saskatchewan. The replacement of aging infrastructure improves grid reliability and resilience and optimizes line-loss savings.
- Demand Side Management and Demand Response Program ($9.45 million): This project will support provincial energy-efficiency programs (both residential and commercial) to reduce energy demands. Residential programs will include lower-income, direct-installation activities; rebates on energy-efficient technologies and home retrofits; and a smart thermostat residential program. Commercial programming will include rebates on the purchase of energy-efficient technologies.
- Fleet Street Battery Storage Project in Regina ($56.89 million): SaskPower will use program funding to procure, install, and integrate a 60-megawatt battery energy-storage system at the existing Fleet Street station. The system will be used during peak periods to reduce the need for additional power generation from fossil fuel sources and enable more intermittent renewable generation capacity.
- Southwest Power Pool to SaskPower Interconnection Project ($78.9 million): Program funding will support the construction of a new substation and transmission lines that will connect the province to the Southwest Power Pool in the United States. The project will increase the availability of electricity for the province during emergencies or local high demand and assist the province in transitioning away from coal-fired electricity generation.
Indigenous Clean Energy Funding
- Northern Indigenous Retrofit and New Construction Housing Program ($22.3 million): SaskPower will use program funds to support energy-efficient retrofits to homes located in northern First Nations’ communities in Saskatchewan. Funds would support two streams of the program: the Major Retrofit stream, which will provide support to retrofit measures in Band-owned and individually owned homes in communities heated by electricity; and a second stream that will provide financial support to have newly constructed homes exceed the current National Energy Codes for Buildings. The project will increase savings opportunities for electricity customers facing energy-affordability challenges in the north, increase energy savings and greenhouse gas emissions reduction in the province, and build relationships and partnerships with Indigenous communities and local experts.
- Non-Wire Solutions Program ($5.56 million): This provincial program will advance the development of low-emitting generation systems in Saskatchewan’s remote, northern electrical distribution system. The provincial program will support replacing aging distribution network infrastructures with local, self-contained, renewable generation and energy-storage systems and microgrid systems that are off Saskatchewan’s main grid. The implementation of new generation systems would improve electricity reliability and resilience, reduce energy losses from transmission and distribution lines, reduce overall greenhouse gas emitting electricity supply, and develop new options to develop and connect community-owned distributed generation.
- Renewable Wind and Solar Interconnection Portfolio ($13.7 million): SaskPower will allocate program funding to enhance renewable energy in the province by adding 400 megawatts of wind power and 300 megawatts of solar generation to south-central Saskatchewan by 2027, as well as supporting a 200-megawatt wind facility project partnership between Innagreen Investments and Awasis Nehiyawewini Energy Development Limited and supporting a 100-megawatt solar project partnership between Iyuhána Solar LP and the Ocean Man First Nation. The project will be managed by independent power producers and in partnership with Indigenous rights holders.
- SaskPower Power Line Technician Preparation Program ($680,000): Funding will support a provincial power line technician program where the utility will partner with the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies to increase the number of power line technicians and the number of Indigenous people in trades in Saskatchewan. The project will assist in advancing SaskPower’s energy transition by increasing the amount of trained power line technicians, as well as offer targeted job opportunities to Indigenous populations.
Saskatchewan projects supported by the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program
The Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program supports the deployment of clean electricity to ensure a reliable, affordable, and decarbonized electricity system. Today, the Government of Canada announced that six projects in Saskatchewan will receive a total of over $12.4 million through the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways Program:
- Cossette Solar Saskatchewan Power Generation Partnership Program Development ($2,728,620): The project will deploy a 1.4-megawatt, bi-facial solar project located in Estevan, Saskatchewan.
- NM Solar Saskatchewan Power Generation Partnership Program Development ($2,696,441): The project will deploy a one-megawatt, bi-facial solar project located in Lomond No. 37, Saskatchewan.
- PrairieCoast Solar Project ($2,000,000): This project will focus on pre-development for a proposed 100-megawatt solar project. The activities will include development of a submission to SaskPower, guidance for First Nation development partners, a traditional environmental knowledge study for cultural guidance, engineering studies, geotechnical studies, solar resource assessments, interconnection studies, and work-force training.
- Kiyam Solar Project ($1,845,576): The project will deploy a one-megawatt AC solar photovoltaic project in a rural location in Saskatchewan near Gladmar, on privately owned land. The project has been accepted into SaskPower’s Power Generation Partner Program and is expected to generate a total of 1,975 megawatt hours.
- Iskotew Solar Project ($1,839,575): The project will deploy a one-megawatt AC solar photovoltaic project in a rural location in Saskatchewan near Alsask, on privately owned land. The project has been accepted into SaskPower’s Power Generation Partner Program and is expected to generate a total of 1,975 megawatt hours.
- La Plonge Solar ($1,313,852): The project will develop, construct, and operate a 500‑kilowatt AC solar energy generation project, located on the English River First Nation’s land, in the village of La Plonge, Saskatchewan.