The Legislative session just ended was acrimonious on both sides.
The NDP Opposition pounded away at lack of education funding and large classroom sizes while the Saskatchewan Party government somewhat incorrectly portrayed Opposition leader Ryan Meili as a carbon tax supporter.
On the last day of the session, Premier Scott Moe threw out the possibility of a mini-nuclear plant in Estevan to compensate for closure of coal mines and some coal-fired power plant units by 2030.
Nuclear power is about the lowest greenhouse gas emitter of all, even though it produces expensive energy.
Moe’s plan comes with some mighty huge obstacles in technology and public acceptance.
Public acceptance of nuclear power technology is uncertain. Fears about safety if there is an accident or the ultimate safe storage of spent nuclear material radiate more strongly than the sun’s rays on a scorcher of a day.
Massive public protests are almost guaranteed if this process is pursued.
The mini-nuclear modules are still under development and by no means proven. This nuclear module, like the expensive not totally effective carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) project, could easily become a burden on the taxpayer/power users.
Locating a nuclear module near the United States border will require extensive and lengthy international consultations — even delaying lawsuits.
Even without the international complexity, plant approval and design could take eight to 10 years before start of construction. Yet the province has 11 years before coal-fired energy is eliminated.
None of this makes sense except as a political strategy.
Moe presumably knows what a hot button subject he raised with the nuclear option and likely has no intention to build one of these plants.
The possibility of a modular nuclear plant in Estevan is nothing more than a smoke screen.
Once the futility of building a module is exposed, once the high cost to the energy users is exposed, once the public fear of nuclear energy is fully exposed, the premier will present his real desire — CCS technology to save jobs in Estevan and Coronach.
Given the public opposition and time issues, the case will be laid out for the costly CCS process.
The pitch for CCS technology will involve the Made-in-Saskatchewan angle as the technology was developed by local universities.
Clearly the premier expects people to support the CCS technology when nuclear is the alternative option.
While the debate rages, the NDP will experience some splits over green energy and nuclear technology. Shrill NDP opponents of nuclear will polarize voters fearing the far left.
That is how Scott Moe will save coal-fired power plants in Saskatchewan.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
