Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced support for a new geothermal power facility near Estevan in Southeastern Saskatchewan. The energy project, led by DEEP Earth Energy Production Corporation, is the first of its kind in Canada and taps into a new renewable energy resource.
Geothermal energy harnesses heat from the earth's crust and transforms it into electricity to power homes and businesses year round. DEEP's geothermal facility will build on Saskatchewan's leadership in the energy sector, using familiar drilling technologies from the oil, gas, and mining industries to tap into this energy source.
The Government of Canada will provide $25.6 million in funding for the five Megawatt (MWe) facility, which will produce enough energy to power approximately 5,000 homes all while taking the equivalent of the yearly emissions of 7,400 cars out of the atmosphere.
The project will create 100 jobs during construction, provide the provincial power grid with clean, renewable energy, and create new business opportunities for local communities.