SaskPower is moving ahead with plans for a new transmission line that would connect south-central Saskatchewan into the southwest. The project will span between Coteau Creek and the Swift Current switching stations. While the proposed route is still being determined for the 155 kilometre transmission line, early plans are creating some concerns for residents. This week, SaskPower hosted an open house, where residents could visit to see the layout of routes, along with environmental implications on the 230-kilovolt project. “Farmers appreciate the fact that we come out and have a conversation with them about the project and to give them the opportunity to share their feedback about the project,” said Lucky Idedia, a stakeholder relations consultant with SaskPower. “We’re gathering feedback that also sort of educates us in terms of the area where we’re looking to build this project.” According to SaskPower’s website, the project is “one key part of a broader plan to move electricity from the area to the homes, businesses and communities across the province.” Areas like Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park and the Matador Community Pasture are potentially in the path, which is a sticking point for local residents like Trevor Harriet, an advocate for Saskatchewan pastureland. “It shows that we are continuing to lose native grassland, especially in the Aspen Parkland Region,” he said. “Natural landscapes are particularly in demand and declining as they become converted to row crop agriculture. That’s the main concern, is the cultivation of native prairies for the small remnants that are left, we would like to keep them intact.” Harriet is hopeful the scheduled four-year development process on the project can lead to a “positive outcome” that works for everyone. “We all know as environmentalists and conservation organizations that we need a better and stronger electrical grid in this province for the electrification that we are going to need as a country to battle climate change and to reduce our carbon footprint,” he said. In the meantime, SaskPower says they’re working with rightsholders, Métis communities, local municipalities and landowners. They’ve sent out information packages about the project to around 2,200 contacts in the local area. “Some of the things that we’ve heard from landowners is for us to reduce the impact to agriculture operations and try to not get too close to houses. And of course, the environment, which is also very important to SaskPower to make sure that we are preserving our environment,” Idedia said. Harriet said he will continue to be engaged with the process. “I think organizations like SaskPower and the provincial government, the ministry of environment especially, are really familiar with and aware of concerns around putting any kind of project through native prairie,” he said. “So, we’ll see where it goes, it’s early stages right now.” According to SaskPower, the engineering design of the transmission line project is expected to be completed by fall of 2028, and construction with power is expected to be completed by 2030. The open houses will continue over the next few weeks, with stops at Beechy Community Hall on July 28 and 29, and Macrorie Community Hall on July 30.
