Green Energy Project Calls for an Inquiry into Sask.'s Energy Economy
[ http://www.saskadulteducators.net/#!Gre ... d90db3f69f ]
March 23, 2016 MEDIA RELEASE For immediate Release March 23, 2016
Green Energy Project Saskatchewan Calls for An Inquiry into Province’s Energy Economy
In a Briefing Note to the Minister of the Economy, Green Energy Project Saskatchewan, a provincial environmental research group established to develop a plan for the conversion of Saskatchewan’s electricity grid to sustainable, renewable options, today called for a Commission of Inquiry and Public Consultation to examine the optimum means of transitioning Saskatchewan away from fossil fuel dependence.
The Briefing Note identifies three significant trends that have had and will continue to have major impacts on Saskatchewan’s energy system and economy:
•The worldwide oil glut, the rapid decline in the price of oil and the likelihood it will remain low for several years;
•The shifts in capital investment by multi-national corporations to renewable energy options as their costs decline and efficiencies improve; and
•The amplification of climate change regulatory policy by governments which will create significant challenges for the province’s economy.
“These developments have already substantially damaged provincial tax revenues for the foreseeable future,” said Steve Lawrence, a spokesperson for Green Energy Project. “It is time to completely rethink the operation of our energy economy and identify policies and programs which will mitigate the severest effects of these changes. An inquiry and public consultation is the best way to achieve this goal.”
Canada was one of 187 countries to sign the recent Paris COP21 Agreement that requires all signatories to take steps toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions to ensure the world’s threshold temperature of 1.5 degrees Celsius is not exceeded. The Government of Canada has pledged to reduce its annual greenhouse gas emissions by 524 MT by the end of 2020, which is the equivalent of all of the emissions currently produced by cars, trucks and the electricity used by buildings in the country each year.
Green Energy Project believes that Saskatchewan, which produces about 74 MT annually must do its part to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to Canada’s climate plan.
“Provincial government policies as set out in the Plan for Growth 2012 of no new taxes, no carbon tax, no royalty review, and no heritage fund will not provide the framework we will need to overcome the contentious issues that face us,” says Lawrence.
“Saskatchewan’s coal generated power supplies face increasing criticism. Our province simply cannot afford another high cost carbon capture SaskPower facility,” says Lawrence. “As the federal government works to achieve its greenhouse gas emissions target, the pressure is on Saskatchewan to greatly increase its use of alternative energy resources.”
The Briefing Note recommends that the Inquiry examine the costs and benefits of:
•New conservation measures;
•Importing hydroelectricity;
•Renewable energy research center;
•Phasing out coal-fired electricity and replacing it with solar and wind power:
•Taxation policy; and
•Mitigation of the negative effects on workers and communities caused by the transition to renewables.
“If this is the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era, we must begin planning our transition now,” says Lawrence.
For more information on this media release, contact Steve Lawrence at 306-922-1062 or stvlawrence@gmail.com. Please also read the attached “Briefing Note: Government Appointment of a Commission of Inquiry to Examine Saskatchewan’s Transition from a Fossil Fuel Economy.”
For more information on Green Energy Project Saskatchewan’s publications on greening the electrical grid, visit [ https://www.policyalternatives.ca/newsr ... skatchewan ].
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The following organizations support the appointment of an inquiry:
Council of Canadians Prince Albert Chapter
Nancy Carswell, nancy.carswell@gmail.com
Council of Canadians Saskatoon Chapter
Burton Urquhart, burton.urquart@gmail.com
Council of Canadians Quill Lake – Wynyard Chapter
Elaine Hughes, tybach@sasktel.net
Council of Canadians Regina Chapter
Jim Elliot, 306-352-4804
Adult Educators Association of Saskatchewan
http://www.saskadulteducators.net
Coalition for a Clean Green Saskatchewan
Karen Weingeist, info@cleangreensask.ca
Committee for Future Generations
Candyce Paul, committeeforfuturegenerations@gmail.com
Renewable Power the Intelligent Choice
Rick Closs, 306-747-3540
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