Over a year ago, a group of concerned Saskatchewan citizens filed a court application, challenging the provincial government and SaskPower over building new gas-fired power plants when the federal government’s goal is to have the electrical grid at net-zero by 2035. Last month, the Saskatchewan Environmental Society applied in Regina Court of King’s Bench, to have intervenor status. Spokesperson for the group, Harold Pexa, says, ” I think with the witnesses they are planning to call evidence from, if they are granted intervenor status, they will add a lot to the understanding of the court, as to what can be done conceivably, in Saskatchewan, to get our power generation to net zero, practically in the required time.” Pexa points out the the SES has a long history, going back to 1970, which pre-dates both the federal and provincial environmental departments.

He explains that the court application was started to compel SaskPower to come up with and implement a net-zero 2035 plan for their power generation, “and I think what precipitated that was SaskPower’s ongoing plan to build new, unabated gas-fire generation.” There are no timelines at this point for a decision on the intervenor status or a decision on the provincial government’s request for the court application to be dismissed.