Mayoral candidate Don Atchison unveiled his plan to make water and garbage future sources of power in Saskatoon Tuesday.
He committed to the idea of using the weir on the South Saskatchewan River to generate energy for SaskPower.
“They’re looking for new and innovative ways how to be environmentally friendly, so I think they’ve kind of opened that door for us,” Atchison said.
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A report to a city committee in April 2015 said a hydroelectric dam at the weir could make money. However, the weir might have to be raised over a metre to make it work.
Atchison also stated his plan to never have another landfill site for the city.
Instead, he wants the city to draw energy from a conversion process like the current Landfill Gas Collection & Power Generation System.
“We need to set on that path as soon as possible. That’s a statement and that’s a commitment that we need to have from council into the future,” he said.
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Solar energy is also something that Atchison wants to be considered.
“We have more sunshine here than any other major city in Canada,” Atchison said.
His environmental plan also includes a year-round growing facility for the Saskatoon Food Bank & Learning Centre. Surplus food could be sold and the money given to the “Milk for Children” charitable campaign, he said.
Election day in Saskatoon is Oct. 26.
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