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SaskPower to invest $550 million to boost power production

Rob Norris, Minister responsible for SaskPower, announced today that SaskPower will invest more than $550 million to add 200 megawatts (MW) of natural gas generation at Queen Elizabeth Power Station in Saskatoon.

Rob Norris, Minister responsible for SaskPower, announced today that SaskPower will invest more than $550 million to add 200 megawatts (MW) of natural gas generation at Queen Elizabeth Power Station in Saskatoon. The expansion will ensure SaskPower is able to meet Saskatchewan's growing need for power.

"In Saskatchewan today we have more people, more businesses, more industry and more jobs," said Norris. "We are taking the necessary steps to ensure the electricity is there to power our growing province, and our growing economy. As we work to meet this growing demand for electricity, we are also working to limit the environmental impact of our power generation."

The project involves the construction of three 35 MW natural gas turbines, six steam generators and a steam turbine designed to produce 95 MW of power. The new turbines and steam generators are expected to begin operations in 2015, and will produce enough electricity to power 200,000 homes.

"These natural gas generating units will emit half the carbon dioxide of coal-fired generators, as well as less sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and mercury," said Robert Watson, SaskPower President and Chief Executive Officer. "Emissions will be reduced even further because the operation will utilize waste heat to generate electricity rather than venting it to the atmosphere."

The private sector will play a major role in the design, construction and commissioning of the project, with many of the goods and services to be purchased from local vendors.

In 2010, SaskPower commissioned three new natural gas generating units at Queen Elizabeth Power Station, boosting the power station's generating capacity to 430 MW. With today's announcement, the generating capacity of Queen Elizabeth Power Station will increase to 630 MW when the new units are commissioned, giving it the second-highest capacity among Saskatchewan power stations.