New hydro power station proposed at weir in Saskatoon

A new hydro power station at the weir on the Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon is being proposed.

If approved, the station would generate approximately 5.5 megawatts of renewable energyand reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 21,120 tonnes.

The City of Saskatoon estimates it could provide power to at least 2,400 homes per year, if it were approved.

The station is being proposed by the City of Saskatoon in partnership with the Saskatoon Tribal Council.

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The estimated cost of the project could be anywhere between $61.5 and $65.2 million, which would be paid for by the tribal council andprivate investors. Costs would be offset by revenue generated from the station and funding from other levels of government.

Proposal last presented in 2015

Hudson said if approved, bidding for contracts would begin in early 2018 by the latest, with an aim of completing the project by 2021. The city and the tribal council would be equal owners in the proposal as it is now.

"We would issue a request for proposal for private developers to also fund and develop the project," said Kevin Hudson, manager of sustainable energy for Saskatoon Light and Power.

The proposal was last presented to the city in 2015 but had been on hold until funding could be identified.

Hudson said the city had put $400,000 into the project for the pre-feasibility studies and could potentially offer more funding.

Doug Porter, general manager of the tribal council, said itwould need to provide around $20 million for the project, or about 30 per cent equity.

The city said pre-feasibility engineering and baseline environmental studies conducted in 2009 are still valid and applicable, so nothing new would need to be conducted.

The studies concluded the project would be profitable.

Back in 2009, it was projected the work could bring in up $5 million annually, but it is unclear how much that has changed in 2017 and likely won't be known until more extensive paperwork is completed and finalized.