Press Release: SES welcomes federal announcement of support for provincial grid interconnections
PRESS RELEASE
Saskatchewan Environmental Society
Monday, June 29, 2026
For immediate release
SES welcomes federal announcement of support for electricity interconnections between provinces
The Saskatchewan Environmental Society (SES) welcomes the federal government’s renewed focus on east-west electricity grid interconnections — two of which are key to Saskatchewan’s clean energy future. Such interconnections have long been recognized as essential nation building infrastructure, and SES has been advocating for stronger grid interconnections, particularly with Manitoba, for more than a decade. Simply put, an electricity grid interconnection (sometimes called an ‘intertie’) is a transmission link between provinces that allows electricity to flow across borders, enabling Saskatchewan to import clean hydro power when it’s needed and export renewable energy when we have a surplus.
The two announced projects of significance to Saskatchewan are a major expansion of the Manitoba intertie and an upgrade to the interconnection with Alberta. The Manitoba connection calls for a 2,000 MW connection in addition to the present 290 MW connection, and an increase of 250 MW to the present 150 MW connection to Alberta. An important component of the federal announcement is the possibility of federal support to fund these projects. Together, these projects would dramatically expand Saskatchewan’s ability to access clean, affordable power.
At the same time, SaskPower continues to pursue an increasingly costly and risky refurbishment of the province’s very old coal-fired power stations, which have a total capacity of 1,400 MW. The capital costs of this project have ballooned from $900,000 to $2.6 billion to $11.4 billion in the past year, and the work is scarcely underway. The project is fraught with technical, financial, and regulatory risks.
It’s time to change course. SES is calling on the Government of Saskatchewan and SaskPower to terminate its coal refurbishment project and instead move decisively towards a modern electricity system built on interconnections and renewables.
Negotiating a new 1,000 MW intertie with the Government of Manitoba and Manitoba Hydro could be the first step. And with federal funding now on the table, there is a clear opportunity to move quickly. The cost of a new 1,000 MW intertie with Manitoba would be in the order of $3 billion and it would be reasonable to ask the federal government to fund half the cost. SaskPower has studied interconnections for years, and such a project depends on known technology, presents few financial risks, and could be accomplished in three to five years.
Expanding ties with Alberta, alongside new wind and solar, can further replace coal while strengthening grid resilience. And a second 1,000 MW intertie to Manitoba by 2035 would position Saskatchewan to meet upcoming federal clean electricity requirements. The federal government is offering a real opportunity and SES urges Saskatchewan to seize it.
“This as a win-win-win scenario — reducing costs for Saskatchewan citizens, strengthening our energy sovereignty, and greening our grid,” says Bob Halliday, SES board member.
-30-