Energy Policy
Energy policy from the 2007 Green Book
:
- Implement a carbon tax similar to Quebec’s that will represent the true cost of fossil fuel energy. This will encourage our residents and industries to be more efficient today, and will make Saskatchewan a North American leader in sustainable energy consumption. Farm fuel inputs will be exempt from this tax.
- Use the proposed carbon tax revenue to utilize Saskatchewan’s vast untapped wealth in renewable resources; developing solar and wind generating capacity to reduce our dependence on coal and avoid nuclear power.
- Invest in new and better transmission lines to service the province and increase access to Manitoba’s renewable hydro power generation.
- Expand energy conservation programs to include:
- The selling of only Energy Star appliances
- Refundable tax credits increasing to $50,000 for the purchase of R-2000 and other highly efficient homes, base on Energuide or infrared assessment
- Providing grants for 50% of the cost of solar thermal roofs or walls including solar hot water, as in Sweden
- Promotion of the development of cellulose and waste product ethanol technology.
Energy Resolutions 1998-2011:
2011.19 Renewable energy centre of excellence
Be it resolved that the Green Party of Saskatchewan supports the development of a renewable energy centre of excellence in the province of Saskatchewan, to make Saskatchewan leaders in renewable energy in Western Canada and the world.
2011.20 Energy 1
Be it resolved that the GPS will seek to amend SaskPower’s charter to include a clause requiring that, in planning to meet future demand, priority should be given FIRST to conservation and efficiency (through Demand Side Management and public campaigning), SECOND to renewable resources harvested and operated sustainably, THIRD to schemes utilizing waste heat through cogeneration schemes, and FOURTH to all other options.
2011.21 Energy 2
Be it resolved that the GPS supports the enforced adoption by SaskPower of a Demand Side Management energy savings target of at least 1% per annum for the foreseeable future. This figure may be adjusted upward depending on the scope for substantial industrial savings found after detailed research. [The current SaskPower DSM target is 0.3%, and is time–limited].
2011.22 Energy 3
Be it resolved that the GPS supports the enforced adoption by SaskPower of a rate structure which does not effectively subsidize heavy industry at the expense of other users, and which does not give perverse incentives to large consumers.
2011.23 Energy 4
Be it resolved that the GPS supports the adoption of a compulsory feebate scheme in each industrial sector, to encourage increasing energy efficiency. GPS holds that such schemes should be implemented for both electricity and heating fuel.
2011.24 Energy 5
Be it resolved that the GPS is in favour of the availability of low interest loans schemes for energy efficiency improvements, supplied or negotiated by the government of Saskatchewan.
2011.25 Energy 6
Be it resolved that the GPS supports the compulsory and rapid adoption by SaskPower of smart grid technology, together with a detailed load management (demand response) strategy and mechanisms for planning for a decentralized grid organized for distributed generation.
2011.26 Energy 7
Be it resolved that the GPS is in favour of statutory entry qualifications
in terms of energy efficiency and total energy used, for all new industrial projects in the province.
2011.28 Energy 9
Be it resolved that the GPS supports government provision of start–up assistance for industrial combined heat and power schemes
2011.29 Energy 10
Be it resolved that the GPS actively seeks the expansion of the province’s wind power capacity through the addition of multiple small windfarms, with preference given to community ownership models. Be it further resolved that the GPS will pursue a firm government target to build Saskatchewan’s wind power capacity by at least 120MW per year for the foreseeable future, with the primary purpose of replacing existing coal–fired capacity.
2011.30 Energy 11
Be it resolved that the GPS is in favour of mandating firm targets for dispatchable renewable power (hydro and sustainable biogas) based on the growing requirement for balancing
of variable renewables such as wind and photovoltaics.
2011.32 Energy 13
Be it resolved that the GPS seeks to establish legislation ensuring local democratic regulation of new power facilities irrespective of the ownership model.
2011.33 Energy 14
Be it resolved that the GPS would establish a legislative framework to encourage the use of local materials, goods and services in the construction and operation of power facilities, through a mixture of incentives and sanctions.
2011.35 Energy 16
Be it resolved that the GPS seeks to establish in law an ethical framework for acceptance or rejection of biomass projects for heat and electricity, using the following criteria:
- a large positive energy return on investment
- substantial net reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, taking all GHGs into account, and calculated on a full lifecycle analysis
- minimized opportunity for dishonest carbon accounting
- protection of First Nations livelihood and traditional way of life; and of the livelihoods of family farms
- no net reduction in food production (unless for vital protection of the local ecology)
- no added threat to important wildlife habitats or to biodiversity, whether directly or indirectly
- no export of the natural means of ensuring soil fertility out of Saskatchewan
- no options involving the loss of the natural means of ensuring soil fertility in other jurisdictions
2011.36 Energy 17
Be it resolved that the GPS would amend SaskEnergy’s charter to include a clause requiring that, in planning to meet future demand, priority should be given FIRST to conservation and efficiency, SECOND to renewable resources and especially solar heat, THIRD to establishment of district heating and combined heat and power schemes, and FOURTH to all other options for maintaining adequate indoor temperatures.
2011.37 Energy 18
Be it resolved that the GPS supports the establishment of energy codes for design and construction of residential and commercial buildings:
- All new residential and commercial buildings should be required to be
solar–ready
– i.e. designed for easy installation of solar hot water panels and photovoltaics if these are not included in the initial design. Planners shall be required to ensure that all new subdivisions are laid out such that all houses have adequate unimpeded solar access.
- All new residential buildings should be legally required to have an Energuide Rating greater than or equal to 80.
- Fines for non–compliance shall be proportional to the extent to which the building fails to meet the standard, and shall be set at a level which makes it economically desirable to meet the standard. All fines shall be contributed to a fund to finance (i) the costs of Energuide rating, (ii) a rebate for projects which achieve Energuide Ratings greater than 90, (iii) an enhanced rebate for projects which achieve Energuide Ratings greater than 95, (iv) a financial contribution towards certification under LEED for Homes and/or Passivhaus.
- All new commercial buildings should be legally required to have an energy consumption below 65% of that required by the Model National Energy Code (MNEC minus 35%).
- Fines for non–compliance shall be proportional to the extent to which the building fails to meet the standard, and shall be set at a level which makes it economically desirable to meet the standard. All fines shall be contributed to a fund to finance (i) the costs of energy model verification and post–construction inspection, (ii) a rebate for projects which achieve MNEC minus 50%, (iii) an enhanced rebate for projects which achieve MNEC minus 75%, (iv) a financial contribution towards certification under LEED for New Construction and/or Passivhaus.
- A rolling programme shall be established, under the auspices of SaskEnergy, to carry out Energuide inspections of all existing housing in the province (unless already inspected). Energy improvements shall be mandated, where viable, for all poorly–performing dwellings (ER<50), and paid for by SaskEnergy, who may recover this cost (except in the case of low income and elderly occupants) through a surcharge on the (now reduced) fuel bill.
2011.38 Energy 19
Be it resolved the GPS supports policies to reduce transport energy consumption by:
- introducing motor taxes proportional to the rate of fuel consumption of the vehicle (with exemptions for farmers)
- using the revenue thereby obtained to fund improvements in public transit schemes, and to provide subsidies for the lowest–consumption vehicles
- working with municipal authorities to encourage policies supporting urban densification, safe cycling routes, a more comprehensive bus service and park–and–ride schemes.
2011.40 Climate Change 2
Be it resolved that, in addition to policies listed under energy, the GPS considers it imperative to immediately address two of the other three major sources of GHG emissions (the third is methane from cattle):
- to impose a carbon supertax (based on carbon dioxide equivalent values) on the fugitive emissions (nearly all methane) of the oil and gas industry. This tax should be set at such a level that there is no financial benefit to the industry in continuing to permit these emissions.
- to provide financial support to farmers for restoration of soil carbon levels, especially through methods which reduce soil nitrous oxide emissions.
2006.10 Adopt in Principle a Green Energy Plan Statement
Be it resolved that the Policy Proposal: A Green Energy Program for Saskatchewan
prepared by John Warnock be adopted in principle as a general GPS policy paper.
2003.3 A green energy plan
BE IT RESOLVED that a Green Party of Saskatchewan Government would develop a green energy policy that protects the environment and creates sustainable and meaningful employment. This policy will place primary emphasis on energy conservation and the development of decentralized electrical generation from sources such as wind, solar, biomass, micro-hydro, geothermal and methane.
and furthermore, the Green Party of Saskatchewan supports the implementation of the Kyoto agreement in Canada.
2002.4 Promoting green energy
BE IT RESOLVED that a Green Party of Saskatchewan government would enact and promote policies that would seriously address the problem of global warming and climate change including conservation measures as well as promote alternative green energy.
As well, in view of the seriousness of this problem and the fact that time is of extreme importance, the Green Party of Saskatchewan will act in such a way outside of the government to promote activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote alternative green energy.
2002.8 Use of natural gas
BE IT RESOLVED that rather than promoting non-renewable natural gas for heating houses, that the Saskatchewan government spend any future money, allocated for encouraging natural gas usage, on promoting retrofit on existing houses and incentives on new houses to promote passive an/or active solar heating.
1999.9 Natural Gas
The Green Party of Saskatchewan takes the position that the corporate interest in chasing the most lucrative markets should not override all public concerns, especially when it involves a strategic and publicly owned resource like natural gas.
The Green Party of Saskatchewan offers the following policy proposals:
- That a special tax or royalty be levied on producers and/or pipeline companies, and the revenues generated be distributed to consumers to offset higher costs.
- That the province establish a special task force authorized to work with other provincial and state governments to ensure security, stability and affordability of natural gas supplies.
1998.1 Greenhouse gases
Resolved that the Green Party of Saskatchewan support immediate action to reduce and limit the release of greenhouse gases in Saskatchewan.
Resolved that the Green Party of Saskatchewan support an extensive energy conservation program and the creation and implementation of alternative methods of energy production.
1998.8 Oil
The Green Party of Saskatchewan resolves that the province should fully support the minimal requirements set out by international treaty at Kyoto. We propose:
- That the province re-commit itself to developing renewable energy resources. This would include re-funding the wind power demonstration project cancelled by SaskPower, re-funding the Saskatchewan Energy Development and Conservation Authority disbanded by the NDP government, and implementing key recommendations from the 1991 Saskatchewan Energy Options commission in the area of demand side management.
- That the province spend money on researching and developing alternatives to the automobile for mass public transport, especially if the Saskatchewan Motor Vehicle Dealers’ Association is unable to cut motor vehicle deaths and injuries by 25% by the year 2000.
- That the NDP provincial government end its subsidies to the oil industry, especially to oil mega-projects.
Platform 2007: Energy
A GPS government, acting for Saskatchewan people, will gain control of our oil and gas reserves, oppose nuclear power, uranium mining and refining, and phase out electrical power from burning coal.
