WELCOME TO GULL LAKE
The Saskatchewan government has selected a team of technology startups to develop prototype systems to help reduce rural crime. Jeff Shirley, owner of Rivercity Technology Services Ltd. in Saskatoon, and William Topping, founder of Brand X Technologies also in Saskatoon, will work in a joint venture partnership to design an app and GPS device that will alert rural residents and landowners of any irregular activity.
Source: Sask. developing rural crime app
The competitive process for the next 200 megawatts (MW) of utility-scale wind capacity is moving forward, with the Request for Proposal (RFP) phase of the competition. Eight of the 23 independent power producers who entered the Request for Qualification (RFQ) phase have qualified to move on to the RFP phase and have been invited to submit proposals for the competition.
“Wind power will play a key role in Saskatchewan’s electricity future,” said Guy Bruce, SaskPower Vice-President of Special Projects. “As of today, wind makes up a total of five per cent of our available generating capacity. We plan to increase this to 30 per cent by 2030 and this project is one way we will reach our goal.”
SaskPower plans to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 40 per cent (from 2005 levels) by 2030. It will significantly increase the amount of renewable electricity in Saskatchewan’s generation mix from 25 per cent today to as much as 50 per cent by 2030.
The competition is being conducted through a two-stage process. In February 2017, SaskPower issued an RFQ to identify independent power producers. Qualified proponents will have until May 25, 2018 to submit their proposals, including choosing their own sites to put forward in the competition. All proposals will be evaluated equally through an open, fair and transparent process. The successful proponent will be announced in fall 2018, with the project expected to be in-service in early 2021.
Wind is an intermittent generation source that requires a ‘back-up’ generation source, like natural gas, when the wind isn’t blowing. This project will generate enough electricity to power approximately 80,000 homes.
SaskPower is facing some unprecedented challenges as we plan for the future, including: a growing demand for power, the transition to cleaner generation options, and the need to upgrade and modernize our aging power grid. We must consider all available options in order to have the right mix to ensure reliable, cost-effective and sustainable power.
Source: SaskPower’s 200 MW Wind Project Moves to RFP Phase of Competition – SaskPower
CTV News | SaskTel expands LTE coverage in southwestern Saskatchewan CTV News SaskTel has expanded its LTE coverage to more than 50 towers throughout southwestern Saskatchewan. It’s the first wave of towers to be upgraded as part of SaskTel’s plan to provide LTE coverage to 99 per cent of the province by April 2017. SaskTel says … SaskTel expands LTE in Southwest SaskatchewanCartt.ca (subscription) all 3 news articles » |
via Saskatchewan – Google News http://ift.tt/2gPn3xM
SGI is reminding customers that beginning Aug. 24, facial recognition software will be in place when issuing driver’s licences and photo identification cards.
“Facial recognition protects Saskatchewan residents from identity theft and it also prevents people from getting multiple licences or ID cards,” said Andrew Cartmell, President and CEO of SGI. “This enhances road safety for everyone because it means someone with a suspended or revoked driver’s licence isn’t able to continue driving by getting a new licence under a different name.”
Facial recognition technology works behind the scenes. Customers won’t notice anything different if they get a new photo taken or receive a new card. Customers are not required to get a new photo or card until their current one expires.
“The transition to facial recognition is seamless for customers, and we are pleased to provide enhanced security that our customers can count on,” said Cartmell. “With this move, Saskatchewan joins most other Canadian provinces that are using facial recognition technology in their driver’s licensing programs, as well as Passport Canada.”
When a photo is enrolled into the facial recognition system:
• The system creates a numerical template of the photo by using landmarks on the face, for example the distance between the eyes, the size and/or shape of the eyes, nose, cheekbones and jaw.
• Then, the system compares the numeric template of the new photo to the numeric template of the customer’s previous one (if the customer has an existing driver’s licence/photo ID card on file).
• Next, it compares the numeric template of the photo to the numeric template of all other photos in the database, to confirm the photo is not associated with any other customer in the database.
There is no added cost to customers for facial recognition, and the driver’s licence and photo ID cards continue to be valid for five years.
SGI announced its intent to move towards facial recognition technology in October 2015, when a new vendor was selected for driver’s licence and photo ID card production after a Request for Proposal process. The contract was awarded to Veridos Canada Inc., who began producing Saskatchewan’s driver licence and photo ID cards on April 1, 2016.
For more information on facial recognition: http://ift.tt/2b0Y0Hc
via SW Sask News – Prairie Post – Prairie Post http://ift.tt/2bzlQps