Saskatchewan looking at importing more power from Manitoba
By Angela Hall, Leader-PostFebruary 2, 2010
REGINA — Saskatchewan and Manitoba will study the cost of improving the power transmission grid between them to allow for increased trade in electricity, the premiers of the provinces said Tuesday.
At the close of the first ever joint cabinet meeting between the neighbouring provinces, Premier Brad Wall said that as Saskatchewan looks at all of its energy options it needs to consider importing more hydro from Manitoba.
Saskatchewan has already been importing power from next door but in "admittedly small amounts," said Wall. The amount peaked in 2008 when Saskatchewan spent $6 million, he said.
In turn, if the grid is improved, there may be opportunity for Saskatchewan to export electricity if Manitoba suffers a drought, Wall said.
"What we're looking at is a feasibility study into improving the transmission grid between Saskatchewan and Manitoba to facilitate a more efficacious back and forth movement of electricity between provinces," said Wall from Yorkton, where the cabinets met.
Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger said the study will look at increasing the capacity of the grid by as much as 150 megawatts, which would about double the current capacity.
Manitoba's main customers of hydro power are in Minnesota and Wisconsin, but Selinger said the province would like to serve its neighbours to the east and west.
"When you look at North America all the grids flow north and south in every region and both Premier Wall and myself talked about the need to strengthen east-west connections for the grid for all of us, for energy security purposes all across the country," Selinger said.
"That's how we built the country with the railway in the early days. We think a national grid capacity is another step in strengthening the economic union in Canada."
The cabinets of Wall's Saskatchewan Party government and Selinger's NDP government will meet again in 2011 in Brandon, Man.
"We would like to get a report from our respective ministers on the energy file by next year to see what's possible," said Selinger, adding the Crown corporations responsible for power in each of the provinces will work together on the issue.
Wall and Selinger said they also talked about an upcoming premiers' mission to Washington, where they are expected to discuss measures in the U.S. that are seen as protectionist. Among the concerns is an American country-of-origin meat labelling law that is impacting livestock producers in Canada.
The Manitoba and Saskatchewan cabinets also agreed their highways ministers would convene a meeting of stakeholders, such as the trucking industry, to try and streamline transportation regulations, Wall said.
ahall@leaderpost.canwest.com
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