Boundary Dam Power Station. On the left is the carbon capture unit.
The reality that coal-fired power in Saskatchewan is being forced to an end, despite the possibility of carbon capture technology, is now weighing heavily on Estevan, as reported by PipelineOnline.ca.
Estevan Mayor Roy Ludwig:
“And we’re not getting any answers. I mean, we’ve been meeting now with the province a few times and we said, ‘Listen, we want to know. We have to start meeting. 2030 is coming very quickly. What are we going to do? We need the federal government involvement. They don’t even answer our emails. We have to get them to the table.
“They want to shut down coal, which is a great baseload power. The only option to that would be close to that would be nuclear. And that won’t be coming (soon). Once we make a decision toward the end of this decade, it probably won’t be built till 2035-2036, something like that.”
And
“It’s weighing on the employees already. We have people saying, ‘You know, I don’t know for sure what’s going to happen, come 2030, so I’m bailing now. I’m going to where the jobs are now.’
“And it’s this sense of frustration, this sense of not knowing, you know, it’s a killer. And the closer we get without any good answers by 2030, the harder it is for everyone in our community. We deserve some answers. And the federal government owes us some answers. And the province, well, we’re starting to talk with them. SaskPower, we have a pretty good relationship with them, but it’s, you know, the final decisions with SaskPower are made by the provincial government, not SaskPower.”
This is a follow up to Further carbon capture on coal “not an option,” according to CIC Minister Don Morgan
Saskatchewan is committed to Agenda 2030?
Scott BloeMe is another useful idiot.
Moe was supposed to make a statement this fall, it was supposed to be a strong statement that Saskatchewan would stand up for itself, its people, its rights. He was supposed to say Sask would not allow itself to be bullied by the federal bullies.
Moe was supposed to be a leader. However, was he simply trying to buy time, placating the conservative element such that they wouldn’t turf him?
People are paying a lot for electricity already, and gas, and it is going to go higher along with everything else. People understand that they are being wiped out financially, emotionally, and even physically. They are extremely pizzed about it. I don’t know what game Moe thinks he is playing that will end well for him. Can’t read the room is an understatement, there is a room full of elephants and he’s listening to his own ass.
I’ve got a little cottage in central Saskatchewan and my power bill for August was almost $200. That’s a summer power bill, I shudder to think what it’s going to be like this winter.
$84 for our summer use place. Power’s been off since end of Aug.
Supplier is Atco, close to border.
My power bill was about $4 in August. However the taxes, fees and energy graft, rate riders and other non-sense was $161?!
Where the hell are the people? Stand up and refuse to stop using a fuel that is efficient and cost effective. Or does everyone out the believe that every breath they take is a pollutant?
The people do not understand how energy production works. They plug in their phone, it charges. They turn on their lightswitch, they get light. They turn on their TV, they get to watch stuff. Where does the electricity come from that gets into their phone, their light, their TV? They dunno. Out there, somewhere. May as well be magic.
Coal makes electricity, but coal bad because pollution. Nuclear makes electricity, but nuclear bad because radiation. Wind makes electricity, and wind make no pollution or radiation, so wind good! Same for solar! That’s it. That’s the entire depth of thinking on the subject. And that goes all the way to the highest levels of government.
We shall see if North America learns anything from what is happening in Europe. I tend to doubt it. I think the pain will have to be felt here, and felt far and wide, before anything changes. National Grid, in Massachusetts, just announced a 60% increase in electricity rates, effective immediately. There’s a sour taste of reality for the deep blue dumb-dumbs of that state.
It’s government of the retarded, by the retarded, for the retarded.
That’s why I’m not a populist. We need great elites to lead.
The elites hate us and want us dead.
“Coal makes electricity, but coal bad because pollution. Nuclear makes electricity, but nuclear bad because radiation. Wind makes electricity, and wind make no pollution or radiation, so wind good! Same for solar! That’s it. That’s the entire depth of thinking on the subject. And that goes all the way to the highest levels of government. ”
They also studiously avoid ever mentioning hydro-electricity, except to occasionally mumble something about rotting trees producing methane…
Hydro is largely tapped out in Canada, and you still need copious amounts of fossil fuels to build & maintain a dam anyway.
“National Grid, in Massachusetts, just announced a 60% increase in electricity rates, effective immediately. There’s a sour taste of reality for the deep blue.”
North Americans are going to freeze to death this winter, Unless the blue State Dementia Present Biden blows up the freaking Evolutionary World. They’re trying to start a war with Russia. A Type Z Nuclear war, And it looks like they’re going to succeed.
I hope everyone of the Dumb SOBs has all the paint sucked off of their houses, and their entire family history gets an Orange AFRO.
Eww … coal is icky. We want “clean, green, renewable” energy!!! Yeayyyy !!! Well … all I can say about that is … see: California.
My “cheaper” … “green” PG$E SUMMER (with no AC, and half the house shut down) is averaging $275.00/mo. Yeah … and even with our mild winters … I’m gonna face serious energy poverty come November
Another criminal act of vandalism by the suburbanite enviromentalists.
“And indeed, even though Boundary Dam Unit 4 was supposedly retired in December last year, due to federal regulations, it has been called back into service several times this year to meet Saskatchewan’s power demands.”
This is how rickety Saskatchewan’s grid is. Do the people of Saskatchewan even know they’re this close to the limit and the federal and provincial governments are conspiring to destabilize it even further? I’m truly gobsmacked.
Most people don’t even know it’s going on, because our useless local media orgs are more invested in regurgitating Orange Man Bad and Britney Spears vs Her Daddy headlines than they are in actually reporting.
If you live in Sask, forward the original Pipeline Online link to your MLA and ask them who the hell is minding the store.
In Ontario we have a bunch of brainwashed stupid high school kids suing the province because Ford cut our emissions targets. Their suing him for human rights violations. I’ll bet these stupid kids have gotten more media time than your situation.
The public education system in Ontario is a circus run by militant social justice clowns and perverts. Prove me wrong.
… sadly … no one will return the emails. Malfeasance on the taxpayer dime … including BONUS checks!!!
Someone in the Saskatchewan government (preferably with a brain) should go visit Quebec Hydro’s installations. They will quickly see the heavy use of fossil fuels to keep the hydro-operations running, like the Q400 aircraft transporting people back and back from site to city, the fuel trucks headed to the reservoir (on a daily basis), the helicopters that are used extensively to install, repair and monitor hydro lines and the parking lots full of Hydro vehicles – mainly Ford F-150 trucks and SUVs (no sign of EVs).
Why does Quebec Hydro use so much fossil fuel? Because they have to. I have never read a single article anywhere in the MSM that criticized this. Yet provinces like Saskatchewan have to phase out coal and eventually oil & gas.
Time to stop walking the plank Saskatchewan.
HydroQuebec can go all electric, including planes and helicopters. Then after five years, others can follow.
Let’s see them build solar and wind farms without the use of lots of petroleum products. Hell, as you highlight, let’s see them even maintain these facilities once built without the copious use of oil.
It is impossible for the foreseeable future to completely eliminate burning oil, especially all that diesel-powered heavy equipment required to mine raw materials for these faux-clean-energy scams.
It is becoming increasingly obvious to me that many eco-tards actually THRIVE on being lied to.
“Let’s see them build solar and wind farms without the use of lots of petroleum products. ”
And concrete…wind turbines require huge amounts of concrete to build their foundations.
Yes. Why isn’t Hydro Quebec at the forefront of EV adaptation. Begs the obvious question. I could give them a pass on the aircraft.
There is no rational, scientific answer as to why this is going on. Why is this going on? The ‘leadership’, that does not answer emails, are neither rational nor scientific. They are controlled by their subconscious, an ‘ideological lens’ that compels their actions.
I appreciate the marshalling of arguments and facts. It is presented well.
Alberta and Saskatchewan (or anyone else for that matter) should never have bought into the whole CO2/ AGW scam in the first place. The best educator is pain, and we are in for a good strapping.
Enjoy the decline my friends! Sunny ways.
“Alberta and Saskatchewan (or anyone else for that matter) should never have bought into the whole CO2/ AGW scam in the first place.”
The problem is, it’s the greatest scam ever perpetrated (even better than the COVID-19 exaggeration). A few politicians have tried to stand against it, but they quickly realize that if they do, they will be insulted and ridiculed as “deniers” and “anti-science”…the MSM will write article after article about what bad people they are, in the pockets of the evil “fossil fuel” industry and willing to sacrifice the very lives of our grandchildren for their own enrichment. Their political opponents will also launch non-stop attacks, ignoring every other issue to focus on the one that buys them the most support (and votes) from the people gullible enough to fall for this.
Contrast this to what happens if they DO go along with the scam: they get to impose carbon taxes, eco-fees and environmental levies that bring in millions of dollars for them to spend on anything they want, and the voting public actually REWARDS THEM for it!
Their poll numbers go up. They are seen as heroes.
It’s the ultimate scam because it forces the politicians, even the honest ones, to go along with it or be voted out.
Heh … its a long way since the 70’s of the past centry when your agent was working on the ash plant that removed around 90% of fly ash from the stacks on a 6 unit coal plant west of Edmonton. Now they are trying to catch air.
This morning the Herald is full of stories how the economy is all by itself going from bad to worse.
I would submit that it is the GLOZIS, the global socialists and their idiot political helpers in Canada that are the actual destroyers of the economy. They constantly add more and more restrictions and burdens on the economy.
Then they say that they are the “experts” the absolutely smartest people in this country.
They cause the inflation, it’s to collect more taxes without actually raising them. You see, the more you make, the more the retail charges, the more taxes everybody pays. The politicians do this on purpose while beating their chests that they are saving the economy.
Most people don’t think about those things, they only see the few dollares (sic) that the idiot is giving them not thinking that he stole it from them in the first place.
And they are pleased and will vote for the idiot.
It is not the provinces fault – they can’t get answers from the feds.
The reality is that as long as the Liberals are in government in Ottawa, coal is dead anywhere in Canada that they don’t need voters. They don’t need SK voters. They need Liberal voters in the Maritimes so if NS wants to open more coal plants they will get permission
Not sure about the CPC – their new leader has been mushy on ‘climate change’
So sorry Mayor of Estevan, you need to start planning a future without coal.
And if anyone cares to look, 75% of SK electricity is generated through coal/natural gas/oil, 20% through hydro electric (we are not blessed with the land formations of Ontario/Quebec/BC that powers their electricity), and the rest is wind/solar which really not increased their proportion since the scam began.
In the words of Captain Capitalism – enjoy the decline. Unless SK and some other provinces get serious about leaving. We need Northern BC (for their ports, hydro power, forestry and minerals), Alberta, SK, northern Manitoba (for the Port of Churchill, hydro power, forestry and minerals) and Northern Ontario for access to the Great Lakes and their forestry and minerals. The rest of Canada can go to you know where. I suspect Yukon and NWT would join us (Nunavut might want to but they bring nothing to the table). That combination would become a world powerhouse.
Separation of Western Provinces doesn’t work without tidewater access or military strength. We’d need to join with the “Flyover” States and form a new country from the TX Gulf to the Beaufort to get both.
Not true. Swiss, Austria, Czech, Slovakia, Hungary all exist and function.
AB-SK would have borders with ROC, BC and USA. Can do a deal with one or more. Have rail and air corridors to negotiate.
All those places are quite the fossil fuel and grain exporters. Also nobody restricts using ESG’s, legislation and illegal aboriginal blockades like they do in Canada. So yeah Bud we need tidewater access and a strong armed forces to keep the wolves at bay. Smh.
Separation of western provinces doesn’t work because they’re run by the same kind of loons as the rest of the country. The western provinces could do whatever they wanted to despite the feds if they weren’t the same kind of losers as the rest of the country.
Wretched Knothead shut down the coal plants without TurdHole’s intervention. The provinces can push back, it just takes intelligence and backbone to do so. Sadly, both are lacking.
When we (and by “We” I mean Western Canadian Provinces and their Industries) let CO2 get redefined by human-hating progressives as a pollutant we opened the door wide to the reality of energy and food shortages. To a future of freezing and starving in the dark. There is a debate that desperately NEEDS to happen in Court about human sourced CO2 to reverse the insanity. If not I fear for the future of most of people he people on this planet.
Harper could have had CO2 removed from the list of toxic substances. He failed to do so.
How do you explain this?
https://www.ckom.com/2022/09/22/moe-leads-provincial-premiers-with-57-per-cent-approval-angus-reid-poll/
Scripture states that 2/3 of humanity will be wiped out in the “last days”
MATTITYAHU – MATTHEW 24:21-25
21 For then shall be Great Tribulation, such as was not
since the beginning of the olam hazeh to this time, no, nor
ever shall be.
22 And except those days are shortened, there should no
flesh survive: but for the elect and for the sake of those
chosen, those days shall be shortened.
23 Then if any man says to you, See, here is the
Moshiach, or There He is; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Moshiachs, and false
neviim, and shall show great signs and wonders;
insomuch that, if it became possible, they shall deceive
the very elect and chosen.
25 See, I have told you before it occurs.
This is a self induced problem. This is what happens when you buy the great lie, hook, line and sinker. Everybody suffers.
Meanwhile in Mexico….
https://financialpost.com/commodities/energy/oil-gas/mexicos-big-bet-on-the-future-of-fossil-fuels-will-get-help-from-a-canadian-pipeline-company
We’re not facing starvation and freezing like Europe yet so the Marxist in government feel that there is more work to be done.
Germany has gone back to “Clean Coal”! The alternative energies are not viable!
Until a politician has the guts to speak the truth, that Athropogenic climate change is a fraud we will be living with this BS!
Ah yes, CO2.
The only pollutant that, were we able to remove it completely, would kill us.
TransAlta started shifting to Nat Gas by converting coal plants, cause gas was less expensive.
Then the 1st Nations ™ noticed the loss of revenue from coal “royalties” on the reserve. Somebody got bought off.
“Effects of food price inflation on infant and child mortality in developing countries”
“Results: Focusing on any departure of health indicators from their respective trends, we find that rising food prices have a significant detrimental effect on nourishment and consequently lead to higher levels of both infant and child mortality in developing countries, and especially in least developed countries.”
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26003132/
I’d like to see Moe stand up at a press conference and ask the Trudeau Liberals about their starvation arithmetic.
How many third world children are they prepared to sacrifice on the altar of their green religion?
How many dead and starving children would be too many? Is there an upper limit?
If they haven’t done the math, why haven’t they done the math? Is it because they know what they will find?
This isn’t complex. The effects of high food prices are well known by governments and the effects of carbon taxes and fertilizer restrictions on food production are just arithmetic.
Instead of standing up and fighting the federal global warming insanity head on we hear about alternate climate change policies that might starve children slower.
Maybe some courage is required to be a leader.
Every time they give an inch on this global warming craziness they ask for another.
As Brian pointed out in a very interesting article from last month – Sask Power is beefing up the transmission lines between the U.S. and Sask. anticipating power sales to the U.S. when in reality they’ll likely be buying it from the U.S. come 2030.
North Dakota coal fired power good…Saskatchewan coal, bad. Sorry Mayor, it ain’t looking too good for your town.
Not to mention North Dakota is facing problems of their own with respect to coal fired plants because of Biden’s radical green energy agenda.
Also – the United Mineworkers of America, who also represent Saskatchewan’s coal workers btw. gave Biden the big thumbs up last election and were all giggles with the promise of fed money for job transitioning/retraining for their members.
With everyone playing their part …the slow roll to energy starvation is going swimmingly well.
It’s your turn Saskatchewan. Ontario shut down perfectly good coal plants ~10 yrs ago cuz of the Green agenda. Some had been fitted with scrubbers and percipitators. Ontario built windfarms. What people don’t know is that the wind turbines need to be backed up by fossil fuel units. Ontario built new gas fired generators and so in effect, the coal plants were replaced with CO2 emitting gas fired generators. As I recall , there was a nasty campaign against coal. Coal was killing people was the story. The Alberta oil patch played along hoping to capitalize from the transition from coal to gas. Now they themselves are being targeted by the green lobby.
Arguing facts and logic is just silly since facts and logic rely on laws of math and physics whereas the unicorn farts of political scientists rely on the laws of Man, and push come to shove, the laws of Man can just overrule laws of Nature. Have you never heard of King Canute who ordered the tide not to come in and the tide obeyed him and stayed away from the shore?
Any nuclear will be much more expensive than the coal it replaces.
Let’s all laugh at those dumb Europeans, we’d never be that stupid!!