Vermette Wood Preservers. (Submitted/Perry Vermette)

By Libby Giesbrecht, CKOM News Staff

Province concerned over federal chemical phase-out impacting Sask. businesses, power grid

May 31, 2023 | 11:59 AM

The provincial government is not in favour of the looming ban on a chemical that could cause local businesses to shut their doors and threatens the reliability of Saskatchewan’s power grid.

An emailed statement from the Government of Saskatchewan said SaskPower and suppliers will be taking a major hit without the ability to use pentachlorophenol in the province or across the country, with a timeline of Oct. 4 too soon for the switch to be successfully completed.

Wood power poles are part of power grids throughout Canada, with many in stock in case of replacement because of weather, wildfire or other damage.

According to the province, Saskatchewan has more than 800,000 utility poles that have been treated with the chemical in use and an inventory of more than 20,000 in reserve. Without a change in the phase-out deadline, the province said SaskPower will have to dispose of unused poles in its reserve and restrict reusing poles that are presently in service.

The province said the impacts of the cancellation of the chemical will require significant investment to create a new stockpile of power poles and will simultaneously create a significant amount of waste the statement called “unnecessary.”

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“The current deadline to cancel pentachlorophenol would create a shortage of power poles, threatening grid stability and reliability,” the statement read.

According to the province and Natalie Tarini, executive director of Wood Preservation Canada, alternatives to pentachlorophenol are limited.

The government statement said one alternative to the chemical is approved for use in Canada but has limitations, as the alternative treatment option — chromated copper arsenate — makes poles harder, more brittle and prone to damage. It also makes the poles less safe by being more difficult for technicians to climb safely and by being more flammable.

Tarini noted that Douglas fir wood is usually used for creating utility poles, a type of wood that requires treatment with an oilborne pesticide. She said no approved alternatives in Canada presently fulfil that requirement.

Part of the need for an extended timeline is due to processing plant conversions the change would require, spanning up to two years, according to the government, and requiring “significant investment.”

Those changes could put Vermette Wood Preservers out of business, according to owner Perry Vermette, who pointed to the lack of available alternative wood treatment options and time needed to switch his operations to meet the new federal requirements.

Perry warned about a shortage of power poles in reserve in case of emergency or replacement.

Reportedly, Don Morgan, minister responsible for SaskPower, has sent a letter to the federal health minister, outlining the province’s concerns over losing pentachlorophenol so quickly.

The province said the cancellation of pentachlorophenol is something SaskPower is actively working on through conversations with suppliers, looking into alternative treatment options and finding ways to use pentachlorophenol-treated products to avoid waste.