RM of Griffin approves Seven Stars, the contentious Weyburn wind project
Sask NDP’s big plan for the electrical grid: Hint – lots of wind and solar, and natural gas
I spent 11 hours working on this story, which I broke into four parts. These are the first two, the next two will come out early next week.
The NDP again want to see coal-fired power go away, “as practical.” The want to convert coal plants to natural gas, even though Saskatchewan has lots of coal but not much in the way of natural gas anymore. We drilled ten gas wells over the last decade, and Alberta did that many by noon today.
There is of course the obligatory massive buildout of wind and solar, and storage. And just coincidentally, three hours after the press conference, wind output in Alberta fell to next to nothing, again.

Digging deep on the NDP’s “Grid & Growth” plan for Saskatchewan’ electrical grid, Part 1
NDP want to increase net-metering rate
Also:
Jim Warren: A History of Oil Production and Price Crises 1973-1991
No business case, indeed
And regarding wind power generation, I just posted this.
For 52 minutes straight on Saturday, Alberta’s 1760 wind turbines had zero output and couldn’t charge a cellphone
…. and its’s still showing zero right now, for at least another 24 minutes, and counting.
Trump’s speech

Donald Trump’s speech to the WEF at Davos.
Oh, yeah, and he has something of a response to Carney’s speech the previous day, too.
When it blows, it sucks for ever other power generator

High wind output in Saskatchewan and Alberta, with zero dollar pricing in Wild Rose Country
If you don’t breathe for 12 hours, do you ask about a good day?
Saskatchewan saw zero wind power for 17 hours over two days.
Hilariously, a Saskatchewan doctor commented on Facebook re this story, “Are you able to share the data for a day where we had good wind production too, for comparison sake?”
I responded, “Doctor, when you look at a patient, do you say, “Let’s look at a day when he’s breathing, because on this day for 12 hours he wasn’t breathing?”
Related:
NDP calls SaskPower rate hike “fiscal trainwreck,” Minister calls it “modest” compared to the alternative.
More fer it then agin it at public hearing

RM of Weyburn public hearing into Seven Stars wind project hears 6 supporters, 3 opponents.
No lynchings took place at this time.
Wind project permits filed; a real live landman, multilaterals and Churchill
Enbridge files wind project development permit applications with RMs of Weyburn and Griffin
Pipeline Online Podcast Ep. 22: Donny Duncan, Millennium Land, a real live landman
Multilateral designs lift more energy with a smaller environmental footprint
Letter to the Editor: Ice-related developments in the Canadian shipping industry
Time to make bank

So it turns out Alberta often gives away power for free when there’s lots of wind, and pays through the nose when there’s no wind. Unfortunately for the last year the only intertie connecting Alberta and Saskatchewan grids has been down. In the coming days it should be back, and Saskatchewan will again have the opportunity to make bank off Alberta’s interesting buy high, sell low strategy.
Break out the baloney!
Just in case you were wondering…
If your turkey relied on wind power this Thanksgiving in Alberta, you’d be eating baloney sandwiches
Also:
Energy Realities Podcast: China v. America on Rare Earth and Critical Energy Minerals
Dr. Tammy Nemeth says, “In the end, who is the beneficiary of not allowing the West to build up its supply chains? It’s China.”
Maybe Saskatchewan needs to get moving on that whole rare earths thing. Lithium, too. Gotta power those iPhones.
For less than a Timbit…

… the entire province of Alberta was powered for 16 hours on Sunday.
You see, when wind does okay, never mind great, NO ONE GETS PAID. And the problem with no one making money is no one is making money. That doesn’t last very long.
Also, on the topic of reliable power:
Energy Minister visits Steel Reef Viewfield, sees implementation of gas-fired power generation
That’s one way to lose an election

Who needed power on Labour Day, anyhow?

Alberta wind power generation took a holiday on Labour Day
Throughout the day, wind output from the 1722 wind turbines (at last count) totalling 5,688 megawatts of total generation capacity hovered around the 1 per cent output mark, ranging from 1.9 to 0.8 per cent.
A “Dialectic on Energy Policy” with a former pipeline CEO vs. sustainable development exec
On July 27, the Midwest Legislators Conference in Saskatoon held a “Dialectic on Energy Policy,” essentially a debate on energy choices in a world focused on climate change. Hal Kvisle, former CEO of TransCanada Pipeline/TC Energy was on the right side of the debate and Louise Miltich came from the left.
Brian Zinchuk on Evan Bray Show: Multilaterals, coal revival, major projects and more
On Sept. 3, Evan Bray and Brian Zinchuk go over the growing impact of large multilateral wells, LNG, the new major projects office, Alberta electrical grid updates, coal revival and more.
Someone noticed
Good piece on the NDP’s dazed and confused tariff response.https://t.co/KORgMLdOEB pic.twitter.com/Rp0SFwq9yM
— Scott Moe (@PremierScottMoe) August 26, 2025
Also: Fireside chat about the coal injunction
The people behind the injunction are against the expansion of natural gas-fired power generation, against the continuation of coal-fired power generation, and also against nuclear power. So what’s left?
And – Wind in Alberta bottoms out three times over the last week
LNG Canada goes online and how that impacts Saskatchewan

LNG Canada ships first cargo, making Canada a global player.
I provide some analysis on how this will impact Saskatchewan in the first part of the story.
Also:

Poilievre posts “Meet Hardisty” video about and its importance to Canada
Donald Trump’s disdain for wind energy could create windfall for Nova Scotia: experts
Energy Realities Podcast: Geopolitical issues and oil. Some interesting discussion about Carney killing the digital services tax to placate Trump, forgoing this thing called “rule of law.”
Minister explains why SK is rebuilding its coal fleet

Saskatchewan is rebuildings its coal fleet. Here’s a chance to hear from Crown Investments Corp and SaskPower Minister Jeremy Harrison explain how this came about. It’s the biggest energy decision in 10 years. If you work in the coal industry in take time this weekend to watch/listen.
Strong wind led to more coal usage. Go figure

How a strong wind day led to coal exceeding natural gas power generation on June 8. This story ties in wind, coal, enhanced oil recovery, nuclear and natural gas and their relationships to each other.
Pipelines, pipelines, gas and wind

Poilievre says pipelines should be built even without consensus.
Eby says it’s not him blocking Smith’s oil pipeline, it’s lack of money and proponent.
Pipeline Online Podcast Ep. 11: Dr. Tammy Nemeth, energy analyst
Quebec government scraps gasoline floor price to boost competition
Nova Scotia’s ambitious ‘Wind West’ offshore energy plan wins support with conditions
A little birdie told me, and the birdie was right…

SaskPower asked customers to reduce demand Wednesday as low wind, gas and coal issues reduce power supply
Wind and solar

SaskPower awards major wind and solar projects to Meadow Lake Tribal Council, Mistawasis Nêhiyawak and Potentia partnerships
All-of-the-above approach: SaskPower Minister’s speech at wind and solar announcement
Meanwhile:
Energy Realities Podcast: Spain and Portugal’s major blackout
