In a letter sent to every member of the Legislative Assembly last week, the coalition members argue, “Yet, while Alberta and Ontario have successfully phased out coal, improving air quality and public health, Saskatchewan is moving backward, investing in refurbishing coal plants to operate until 2050.”
The letter is signed by representatives of the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, the Saskatchewan Public Health Association, the Canadian Association of Nurses for the Environment, Asthma Canada, the Canadian Lung Association, the Canadian Public Health Association and several other leading health organizations.
The letter states the obvious, “SaskPower had previously invested in planning for the coal phase-out and was prepared to transition to renewable energy. Redirecting the funds required to refurbish coal plants into renewable projects would allow us to power our economy with healthier, more affordable alternatives to coal.”
“We know it’s time to phase out coal — the cost is too high on multiple fronts,” said Jared Clarke, Shadow Minister for the Environment and for Rural & Remote Health.
“Scott Moe will double power rates with a plan his own officials call extremely risky.
“Now, health experts are warning of grave consequences as well. What will it take for this Sask. Party government to listen to the people of this province and put a stop to their more costly and reckless plan once and for all?”
Beck’s team has put forward a Grid & Growth Plan that moves to a mix of renewable energy, natural gas, and carves a path for nuclear when the time is right.
“We can build our economy for the future — it just takes common sense and political will,” Clarke said.
“We know there is so much potential for generational investment in renewable energy in Saskatchewan and an important role for natural gas generation and I’m proud to be part of a team that is working to keep rates affordable, and lower emissions — and, in doing these things, generate $33 billion in new economic activity.”
The health experts argue in their letter that Saskatchewan has some of the best renewable energy potential in Canada and point to recent wind and solar procurement contracts that came in significantly below SaskPower's current retail electricity rate.
The true cost of Scott Moe’s coal plan surfaced through leaked briefing notes provided to Beck’s team detailing a cost of $26-billion, 10 times and number previously provided publicly by the Sask. Party.
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