The Estevan Chamber of Commerce has declared its disapproval over the federal government’s recent announcement that it plans to phase out coal power generation in Canada by 2030, accelerating plans to cease traditional coal power operation.
“Obviously, coal is a huge part of the community. There’s been a long working relationship between the community and Westmoreland Coal,” said executive director Jackie Wall. “There have been great strides in the carbon capture project at Boundary Dam, and we’re one hundred per cent behind that.”
Wall said she feels that the federal government made a unilateral decision, with the necessary amount of consultation with communities that are dependent on coal production.
“Coal has been a very inexpensive way to produce power. And now, the carbon capture technology here is a lot better for the environment, and it needs to be expanded,” said Wall. “It’s still up in the air whether carbon capture will fit into this phaseout they promise. We’re completely against this.”
Wall said the effects of such a phaseout taking place will have a huge impact on Estevan and many communities in the surrounding area. She noted that power generation technologies like solar and wind power are not nearly as cost-effective as coal, adding that the federal government should take a look at the long-term effects of the policies they wish to enact.
“I agree that there needs to be an environmental responsibility, but there also needs to be economic responsibility for the citizens of Canada,” said Wall.
Wall referenced the difficulties that have arisen in Ontario relating to their power generation and the trouble many in Ontario facing, in affording energy bills as a reason for caution when implementing a phaseout of coal—especially when there are so many communities in Saskatchewan that are dependent on the industries associated with coal.
“If you look at Ontario right now, there’s a huge mess with the initiatives they have set forward. They have people who are choosing to either heat their homes or feed their families,” said Wall. “Energy costs have skyrocketed there, and I think the federal government needs to take a look at that, and see what the problems were in implementing that. They should look at how those decisions affected the consumers and businesses, and really carefully move forward.”
The chamber is going to be vocal about the benefits of SaskPower’s carbon capture project at Boundary Dam’s Unit 3, and is organizing a summit on carbon capture for 2017. The summit will be a chance to promote and raise awareness of carbon capture technology and the opportunities it entails.
Wall said the phase out would have an even more dramatic effect on the province, considering that it has been announced so soon after a prior announcement of the gradtual implementation of a carbon levy in coming years.
“I think there are more effective ways to get more energy efficient. I don’t think a tax is necessarily the most comprehensive way to move forward,” said Wall. “We’re going to be watching this all very closely.”
