Murray Wood: Who's hot... and who's not
Every Friday, Murray Wood takes a look back at the week's news and decides who's hot... and who's not. This week's list ...
SaskPower has been given approval to build and operate two international power lines to the U.S.
After approval by the Canada Energy Regulator, the Southwest Power Pool project will increase shared power line capacity from 150 to 650 metawatts.
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SaskPower signed a 20-year agreement with Southwest Power Pool in 2022. The agreement allows Saskatchewan to receive up to 650 megawatts of power from the U.S. and SaskPower will look at sending power back to the U.S. in future.
Canada and the U.S. both need new power facilities to support the project. Basin Electric Power Cooperative will complete the work on the U.S. side of the border.
“The project will strengthen our power grid, improve emergency support, allow us to import power and, in the future, to export excess electricity to generate revenue,” the Crown corporation stated in a release.
The proposed power lines are planned to link the Tableland Switching Station 15 kilometres southwest of Estavan to the border between Saskatchewan and North Dakota. SaskPower will construct two six-kilometre lines in Canada, while Basin Electric will build the 180-kilometre line in the United States.
Jeremy Harrison, the minister responsible for SaskPower, called the transmission infrastructure “crucial” to both energy security and economic growth in Saskatchewan.
“This project is an important component of our Saskatchewan First Energy Security Strategy and Supply Plan, and we’re very pleased with today’s Canada Energy Regulator decision that will allow it to proceed,” Harrison said in a statement.
“Increasing the interconnection between SaskPower and the SPP will enhance the resilience and flexibility of both our electricity grids, allowing for more efficient balancing of supply and demand across regions,” explained Rupen Pandya, SaskPower’s president and CEO.
Receiving approval from the Canada Energy Regulator “confirms that the regulator is satisfied with engagement and rightsholder consultation conducted since 2023 and acknowledges that planning, design and operation of the project has appropriately considered environmental and other impacts,” SaskPower added.
The company said Basin Electric received its presidential permit for construction across the border in May. According to SaskPower, construction on the project will begin later this year, with a plan to be online in 2027.
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