In a submission by SaskPower to the Rate Review Panel regarding the Bell Data Centre, it states: "The decision to operate coal beyond its regulated end of life has allowed SaskPower to have supply available to accommodate the Bell data centre load."
"For months, Scott Moe has been claiming that the reason he is spending $46 billion to keep coal running forever is because it’s the most affordable source of power — as I am sure it won't be a surprise to the people of Saskatchewan, he is lying yet again." said Carla Beck, Leader of the Saskatchewan NDP.
"People's rates are going to double under their plan, the reliability of the grid is going to decrease, and the reason why this is going to happen is because Scott Moe wants to gloat about a data centre, more than he wants to make life affordable for the people who live and work in Saskatchewan."
Of the 14 requests for information that the Rate Review Panel made of SaskPower with respect to the Bell Data Centre, SaskPower did not make public seven responses claiming confidential information.
"Once again, the Sask. Party government has been caught deceiving the very people they are supposed to represent. They continue to hide information. They continue to avoid answering questions. They continue to block the public from the answers that they deserve," said Brittney Senger, Shadow Minister of Tech, Innovation & AI.
"Frankly, people should be angry with the government. Everything that the Sask. Party has done to push this project has been misleading and disingenuous. They failed to conduct any public consultation before the project was announced and under way.
“Instead, our caucus has been listening to and hearing concerns from hundreds of people across the province who are just looking for information. They have real concerns about what hyperscale data centres will mean for their power rates and their cost of living. They have questions about digital sovereignty and the environmental implications of these projects.
“At a time when everyone in Saskatchewan is feeling the effects of the rising cost of living, the government should be taking action to make life more affordable. Instead, the Premier is stonewalling, insulting, and twisting facts to justify doubling power rates."
This isn't the only data centre scandal Moe is engulfed in. Despite claiming that the government was not considering the proposed Moose Jaw Data Centre, he has refused to be honest with the people about why local Sask. Party MLA Megan Patterson cut the ribbon for it last year and gave it "overwhelming support" as the company reported in its application to build a data centre.
"Scott Moe needs to remember that he doesn't work for AI data companies. He is supposed to work for the people of Saskatchewan. Even though it clearly pains him to do anything in the interests of the people of this province, he owes the people honest answers to their questions," said Beck.
"It’s time Saskatchewan had an honest government. For a change."