SaskPower flips switch on largest wind generation facilities ever built in Sask.

SaskPower has seen the wind in Saskatchewan and is tapping into its potential as a power source more now than ever before.

On Wednesday, SaskPower announced the largest wind generation facilities ever constructed in the province have been connected to the power grid. One is located near Assiniboia, with the other near Herbert.

Producing up to 375 megawatts (MW) of power, the facilities more than double Saskatchewan’s amount of available wind generation.

“SaskPower’s investment into increased renewable power shows its commitment to creating a cleaner power grid,” Don Morgan, the provincial government’s minister responsible for SaskPower, said in a media release.

“These new wind facilities will not only produce enough emissions-free power for up to 187,000 Saskatchewan homes but will greatly help SaskPower achieve its emissions reductions goals of at least 50 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030.”

The Golden South Wind Facility near Assiniboia was built by Potentia Renewables, which owns and operates the facility. It uses 50 turbines to generate up to 200 MW of power.

The Blue Hill Wind Facility near Herbert produces 175 MW through 35 turbines. It’s owned and operated by Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp.

Both companies will sell the power produced at the facilities to SaskPower through 25-year power purchase agreements.

SaskPower also is set to launch a competition to find a company to build the province’s largest solar facility in the Estevan region.

The facility is to generate 100 MW, 10 times more than Saskatchewan’s current largest solar facility. The Estevan facility will produce enough power for up to 25,000 homes.

“SaskPower’s commitment to reducing its emissions is evident in today’s announcement,” SaskPower interim president and CEO Troy King said in the release. “Expanding our renewable generation portfolio is a critical part to providing safe, reliable, and cost-effective power to Saskatchewan.”