Backgrounder

CBC Radio Transcript - October 27, 2011 at 7:30 am. ELECTION 2011: NDP PROMISING MORE WIND POWER BUT TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR IT IS ANOTHER MATTER

TED DELLER [ANNOUNCER]

Our top story this morning, it’s in the world of politics and one of the most expensive promises in the NDP’s election platform this year is also one of the least talked about.

Dwain Lingenfelter says if he becomes Premier he will build a lot more wind power turbines in Saskatchewan, but this morning CBC’s Geoff Leo tells us trying to figure out how he’ll pay for that $500-million dollar project is another matter.

GEOFF LEO [REPORTER]

Dwain Lingenfelter says during his first term in office he’s going to require SaskPower to build 400 megawatts of wind power. The Crown Corporation is already planning to construct 200 megawatts, so he’ll get them to double that and he says it won’t cost a dime more.

DWAIN LINGENFELTER [SASK NDP LEADER]

So it should simply shift from combined gas to wind and that won’t be a very big leap because SaskPower has the technology how to do wind.

GEOFF LEO [REPORTER]

But it’s not quite that simple. SaskPower has a 4-year plan that includes coal, gas and renewable energy and contracts have already been signed.

Brad Wall says Lingenfelter has a big hole in his platform.

BRAD WALL [SASKATCHEWAN PREMIER]

So you’re going to make SaskPower borrow the money? Is it going to come from the General Revenue Fund or are people going to pay higher electricity rates?

GEOFF LEO [REPORTER]

The NDP’s extra wind power would cost about half a billion dollars. Lingenfelter says he’ll figure how to pay for it once he’s Premier.

DWAIN LINGENFELTER [SASK NDP LEADER]

That would all come as we sit down with SaskPower after the election.

GEOFF LEO [REPORTER]

He says wind power is the future and Saskatchewan needs more of it.

Geoff Leo, CBC News, Regina. 1

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