Rotary Club of Regina

Weekly Club Meeting Report March 20, 2023

 

 

Interim president Ian Yeates opened the meeting with a land acknowledgement and welcomed everyone to the meeting.  

Darcy Holderness, project manager, small modular reactor (SMR) development, SaskPower, provided an overview of the Crown corporation’s work in bringing SMR onto the provincial grid. Darcy, a graduate from the U of S Engineering College, has been with SaskPower since 2004, working the entire time in power production and supply. SaskPower has been researching SMRs since 2010; in 2020 the federal government announced an SMR action plan which set the stage for focused investment in the project. SaskPower is the highest emitting utility in the country; its target is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to below 2005 levels by 2030. In order to reach these targets, it needs to invest in new technology, including investing in innovation, carbon capture, modernizing the power grid, customer programs, and expanded transmission facilities. The addition of a 300MW SRM is part of the plan; it would provide 24/7 energy, be emission free, is the right size for the grid, provides further potential for processing the province’s high-grade uranium ore, and provides enormous socioeconomic benefits.  The technology has been selected (BWRX 100) a USA made GE/Hitachi design. One benefit of the design is that Ontario is scheduled to bring the same technical solution on-line in 2028 so the corporation will have the benefit from lessons learned. Saskatchewan’s timeline for completion is 2034-35. The project is now finalizing site selection which will either be in the Elbow or Estevan areas. Engagement with stakeholders, including Indigenous communities is an important part of the process. Darcy advised that the engagement team on the project is as large as the technical team. Additional challenges include the development of an appropriate culture to ensure the safe, secure, and sustainable operations of nuclear energy. Darcy also provided an overview of the regulatory hurdles that will need to be overcome before the unit is operational.

No birthdays.  One anniversary-Osvaldo Campos Ruiz, three years on March 26^th.

 

President Ian reported that the presidents and presidents-elect of the Regina and Eastview clubs will meet next week to discuss collaboration, joint meetings, etc.

Regina Eastview is looking for a family to host a Rotary exchange student this fall.

Volunteers are required for the Regina Musical Festival—more information to come.

 

The 50/50 pot of $302 lives on.  Many thanks to Dustin Jones, Katherine Bergman, Joanna Alexander, Gilda Treleaven-Graham, George Carson, Carole Bryant, Mitch Zaba, and Ian Yeates for assisting with today’s meeting.

 

 

March 27^th –Zoom only meeting—representative from the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association

April 3^rd –Zoom only meeting—George Carson on COVID 19.

April 17^th –Club social. Suggestions include a tour of the McKenzie Art Gallery or a visit to club member Wayne Lorch’s antique car/Elvis Museum. Jessica Rawn would love to hear other ideas from club members.