REGINA — The Town of Coronach and the Rural Municipality of Hart Butte have been allocated $550,000 in funding to support new coal-based opportunities in the region. Funding will be used to advance research into char production and use, in partnership with the University of Regina.
"As a result of the federal government's decision to decommission all coal power stations, the Government of Saskatchewan is committed to helping the areas of the province that will be most impacted by the closure of coal plants, and that's exactly what this funding will do," Agriculture Minister David Marit said.
Current federal regulations require all coal-fired power stations to be decommissioned after 50 years of operation, or to close by 2030, whichever comes first. This will impact three power stations, two mines and hundreds of jobs in southern Saskatchewan.
The Town of Coronach and RM of Hart Butte are members of South Saskatchewan Ready, an economic alliance of nine rural communities and municipalities in south-central Saskatchewan. South Saskatchewan Ready has identified Videre Energy's pilot project as a priority coal transition economic driver for the area.
The technology presented by Videre Energy will take lignite coal and convert it to low greenhouse gas emission products that can support the energy and agriculture sectors.
"The Videre lignite demonstration plant represents a way forward with the potential to mitigate the negative economic impacts of the federal mandate to close the Poplar River Power Station in 2030," Coronach Mayor Calvin Martin said.
In February 2020 the province allocated $10 million to support Estevan, Coronach and the area in their transition away from coal-based industries to other economic opportunities.
