Saskatchewan’s government is planning to use coal power as a ‘bridge’ to nuclear baseload power generation.

In a letter sent to SaskPower employees Wednesday, Minister in Charge of SaskPower Jeremy Harrison said that while Saskatchewan remains committed to building a nuclear based net-zero power grid by 2050, the province is moving towards an “all-of-the-above approach” to meet projected growth in demand.

“We have also made the strategic decision that our priorities for SaskPower going forward will be reliable and affordable power generation along with energy security. This led to a fundamental reconsideration of the future role of coal in our system,” Harrison said in a statement.

“The certainty and security of coal means that it will continue as a pillar of our electrical generation system as we bridge to a nuclear future powered by Saskatchewan uranium.”

Harrison also said the coal plants in the province are in “remarkably viable condition given their age,” inviting the federal government to work with them as “partners.”

“Some have argued that the federal government has the authority to mandate the shutdown of our coal plants. The Government of Saskatchewan has been very clear in this regard: the federal government has no standing in this discussion,” Harrison’s letter to employees said, adding that the province does not recognize the legitimacy of federal clean energy regulations.

Natural Resources Canada and Environment and Climate Change Canada could not be immediately reached for comment.

Harrison’s letter goes on to explain that Boundary Dam 4, one of the coal-powered generators at the plant near Estevan, will be the first to be restored.

“In the years to come, all coal units at Boundary Dam, Poplar River and Shand will receive the work necessary to extend the life of those units,” Harrison said.

According to SaskPower, Boundary Dam has a total of five units for a combined power capacity of 531 megawatts. One of the units is connected to carbon capture technology, the only coal plant in the country in compliance with federal rules to operate past 2030.

Poplar River Power Station, near Coronach, operates another two units, along with one at Shand Power Station, also near Estevan.

All Saskatchewan coal power plants are still listed on the federal government’s page on the planned phase out with a final day of operation of December 31, 2029.

In 2016, the federal government passed regulations requiring all coal-fired power plants to be closed down after 50 years of use, or by 2030, whichever came first. Until Wednesday, the province said it would comply with those rules.

At a media availability Wednesday, Premier Scott Moe couldn’t say how the province will extend coal-use past 2030 given the federal regulations. However, he called the plans “one of the opportunities” the province has with Ottawa to provide low-cost, reliable power.

“We’re going to need more power in the years ahead. And we are gonna look at an all of the above approach in the power sources that we have.” he said.

United Mine Workers of America, the union representing Saskatchewan coal miners, said the extension on Wednesday was a surprise after roughly seven years of lobbying provincial politicians.

“I know they’re looking at nuclear,” Jody Dukart, the union’s international auditor teller for Canada, said. Why have all your eggs in the same basket? I think they need to continue on with coal, with carbon capture.

The news was being received well in Coronach, which is located roughly nine kilometres away from nearby Poplar River Power Station.

Mayor Calvin Martin said roughly two of every three people in the area are tied to the coal plant financially, and years more coal power prevents a lot of financial harm.

“We’re looking at 60-plus per cent of our population potentially leaving town, and so we took that personally,” Martin said.

“They are committed to net-zero, but it’s going to take time to get there.”