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The Saskatchewan government is seriously considering using nuclear energy to replace its fleet of aging coal- and natural gas-fired power plants, in part because of growing concern about climate change and carbon dioxide emissions.

While it would be years before a nuclear power station could be constructed in the province, small modular reactors (SMRs) are one of three options the province is eyeing as a long-term source of baseload electricity, to be supplemented by wind and solar.

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“Nuclear power has virtually no emissions relative to (liquefied natural gas), which has some emissions, relative to carbon capture and storage, which does have some emissions. It really starts to change the conversation,” Premier Scott Moe said.

However, at least one expert believes the long timelines and high cost compared to making existing power plants more efficient and installing utility-scale renewable projects means it’s unlikely a reactor will be built in Saskatchewan in the next two decades.