At the Tuesday, October 12 regular meeting of Moose Jaw City Council, Council approved a recommendation that Administration apply to the Smart Renewables and Electrification Pathways (SREPs) Program Capacity Building Stream of the Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) Infrastructure Program. The goal is to secure funding to continue exploration into the geothermal energy potential for use in heating and industrial processing at Moose Jaw’s Agri-Food Industrial Park.
“The City of Moose Jaw has an opportunity to further harness our geothermal resources to create economic development opportunities,” explained Jim Puffalt, City Manager. “The SREPs Program Capacity Building Stream of the Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) Infrastructure Program would provide 100% of the funds required up to $5,000,000 to move the Geothermal Project to the next level, including the digging of a test well and feasibility studies into full-scale industrial use. This is a tremendous green initiative that fits seamlessly within our Strategic Plan.”
Earlier this year Moose Jaw City Council approved $54,186.00 to fund a Preliminary Economic Assessment of the geothermal potential of land southeast of the City, and the report will be presented to Council at a later date.
Moose Jaw has a long history of utilizing geothermal-heated water, with the Temple Gardens Mineral spa pool drawing from existing wells in the city. The former Natatorium indoor pool also used geothermal-heated water from Moose Jaw wells.