Maybe it was because they were on neutral ground and other factors came into play, but if Saskatchewan can serve as a melting pot and Brad Wall can act as an arbitrator between U.S. Democrats and Republicans, we say ‘go get ‘em.’
When American Senators Lindsey Graham (Rep.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (Dem.) arrived in Saskatchewan last week to tour the Boundary Dam Unit 3, carbon capture plant, it became obvious to observers that these two were on a first-name basis and standing on comfortable ground with one another. They may not be best buddies, but it was evident they bore mutual respect.
BD3 apparently has helped bring the two opposing forces together.
These two heavyweights on the U.S. political scene are convinced Saskatchewan’s plunge into reducing green house gas emissions through the development of a for-sure carbon capture process is well worth the effort. Whitehouse (Rhode Island) and Graham (South Carolina), and to a lesser extent, their accompanying Congressman Tom Price (South Carolina), saw first-hand how this province put their money ($1.4 billion) where their mouth was to deliver a potential solution by reducing 90 per cent of the carbon dioxide emissions from a coal-fired commercial power plant.
It’s taking some time, but it appears as if BD3 is gaining legs on the international front and gathering more visitors to the site since its opening 10 months ago. In fact, representatives from over 25 countries have made a foray into Estevan to see what the fuss is about.
One year from now, the leaders at SaskPower, the owner/operator, will be making the decision regarding the next step in the process. They, along with the politicians, of course, will have to determine whether or not BD3 rolls out to BD4 and BD5.
With delegates like Graham and Whitehouse making the trek and seeing the results, the decisions might be rendered a little more easily, especially if their admiration is eventually accompanied by some investment or partner purchases of intellectual properties
Graham, who is one of several Republicans vying for the presidential nod from his party, seemed convinced Saskatchewan holds an important key to the future and he was going back home to question a few fellow politicians as to why a halt had been imposed on his country’s carbon capture experimentations. The fact this was his third trip to Saskatchewan to study the results and ask questions, has to be seen as a positive for both the province as well as for American citizens and politicians, who are anxious to find solutions to global warming and greenhouse gas emissions.
As Premier Wall pointed out again last Wednesday, Saskatchewan and Washington have been working on this file for over 10 years, and now BD3 was proving that coal can be a part of the American power generating mix in an environmentally friendly manner, while making it cost-effective at the same time. That was something that was not lost on the visitors who appreciated the economic/business model almost as much as they latched onto the environmental aspects.
As Graham noted, the road for American environmental leaders, now leads to Saskatchewan.
North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp has already made her way here and was impressed with the potential, since coal and CO2 as agents for change and oil recovery is every bit as valid for her constituency as it is here.
These are interesting times on the environmental and political fronts, both in Canada and the United States. We saw that last week. Maybe it was because they were on neutral ground and other factors came into play, but if Saskatchewan can serve as a melting pot and Brad Wall can act as an arbitrator between U.S. Democrats and Republicans, we say ‘go get ‘em.’
When American Senators Lindsey Graham (Rep.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (Dem.) arrived in Saskatchewan last week to tour the Boundary Dam Unit 3, carbon capture plant, it became obvious to observers that these two were on a first-name basis and standing on comfortable ground with one another. They may not be best buddies, but it was evident they bore mutual respect.
BD3 apparently has helped bring the two opposing forces together.
These two heavyweights on the U.S. political scene are convinced Saskatchewan’s plunge into reducing green house gas emissions through the development of a for-sure carbon capture process is well worth the effort. Whitehouse (Rhode Island) and Graham (South Carolina), and to a lesser extent, their accompanying Congressman Tom Price (South Carolina), saw first-hand how this province put their money ($1.4 billion) where their mouth was to deliver a potential solution by reducing 90 per cent of the carbon dioxide emissions from a coal-fired commercial power plant.
It’s taking some time, but it appears as if BD3 is gaining legs on the international front and gathering more visitors to the site since it’s opening 10 months ago. In fact, representatives from over 25 countries have made a foray into Estevan to see what the fuss is about.
One year from now, the leaders at SaskPower, the owner/operator, will be making the decision regarding the next step in the process. They, along with the politicians, of course, will have to determine whether or not BD3 rolls out to BD4 and BD5.
With delegates like Graham and Whitehouse making the trek and seeing the results, the decisions might be rendered a little more easily, especially if their admiration is eventually accompanied by some investment or partner purchases of intellectual properties
Graham, who is one of several Republicans vying for the presidential nod from his party, seemed convinced Saskatchewan holds an important key to the future and he was going back home to question a few fellow politicians as to why a halt had been imposed on his country’s carbon capture experimentations. The fact this was his third trip to Saskatchewan to study the results and ask questions, has to be seen as a positive for both the province as well as for American citizens and politicians, who are anxious to find solutions to global warming and greenhouse gas emissions.
As Premier Wall pointed out again last Wednesday, Saskatchewan and Washington have been working on this file for over 10 years, and now BD3 was proving that coal can be a part of the American power generating mix in an environmentally friendly manner, while making it cost-effective at the same time. That was something that was not lost on the visitors who appreciated the economic/business model almost as much as they latched onto the environmental aspects.
As Graham noted, the road for American environmental leaders, now leads to Saskatchewan.
North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp has already made her way here and was impressed with the potential, since coal and CO2 as agents for change and oil recovery is every bit as valid for her constituency as it is here.
These are interesting times on the environmental and political fronts, both in Canada and the United States. We saw that last week.
