Major power plant near Swift more than half done

By Collin Gallant on January 19, 2018.

Medicine Hat News

Work on a major new power plant near Swift Current has reached the half-way point, officials with SaskPower announced Thursday

When complete, the 350-megawatt, natural gas-fired Chinook power station will provide enough electricity to power 350,000 homes.

Officials with the provincial power company stated Thursday that construction is on time and on budget, and with foundations complete and major components arriving, the project is 50 per cent complete.

“People living in the area may have seen the arrival of the gas turbine just this week,” said SaskPower vice-president Howard Matthews in a statement. “(The station) will provide us with that crucial baseload power as we look to expand more intermittent generation options like wind and solar in the years to come.”

The site, off Highway 32 northwest of Swift Current, was selected in 2015 at the location for new generating station that is expected to be in service in late 2019.

Site selection for an additional 750-megawatt facility is currently underway.

The utility plans to reduce emissions by 40 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030 by adding more natural gas generation and supply as much as half of power needs via renewable sources by that time.

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