Reported $26B price tag for reactors won't derail Ont.'s nuclear plan
McGuinty
> (The Associated Press) - Jul 14
>
> Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty says a reported $26-billion price
> tag for two new nuclear reactors isn't going to derail the province's
> nuclear ambitions.
>
> McGuinty says he's confident ongoing talks with the federal
> government over Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.'s bid will yield a better
> deal, but he hasn't set a firm deadline.
>
> And while the project is more expensive than anticipated,
> McGuinty says Ontario has the information ahead of time and that means
> it will be able to better assess how to deal with possible costs
> overruns.
>
> Ottawa, McGuinty adds, must take into account the future of
> Canada's domestic nuclear industry as it "sharpens its pencils" to try
> to help top bidder AECL come up with a more competitive deal.
>
> His comments follow reports that AECL wanted $26 billion to build
> two new reactors in Darlington, east of Toronto - a total that would
> wipe out the whole amount budgeted for nuclear expansion in the
> province.
>
> Energy Minister George Smitherman announced plans to put its
> nuclear power plans on hold last month because the bid was "billions"
> away from the $6 billion the province had expected to pay.
>
> Neither Smitherman nor McGuinty would reveal the amount of the
> bid from AECL, deemed the only compliant proposal out of three offers,
> citing confidentiality agreements.
>
> Greenpeace analyst Shawn-Patrick Stensil says Prime Minister
> Stephen Harper must say no to what would amount to a $20-billion
> nuclear bailout.
He also blasted Ontario for failing to disclose the cost
> escalation.
> (The Associated Press) - Jul 14
>
> Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty says a reported $26-billion price
> tag for two new nuclear reactors isn't going to derail the province's
> nuclear ambitions.
>
> McGuinty says he's confident ongoing talks with the federal
> government over Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.'s bid will yield a better
> deal, but he hasn't set a firm deadline.
>
> And while the project is more expensive than anticipated,
> McGuinty says Ontario has the information ahead of time and that means
> it will be able to better assess how to deal with possible costs
> overruns.
>
> Ottawa, McGuinty adds, must take into account the future of
> Canada's domestic nuclear industry as it "sharpens its pencils" to try
> to help top bidder AECL come up with a more competitive deal.
>
> His comments follow reports that AECL wanted $26 billion to build
> two new reactors in Darlington, east of Toronto - a total that would
> wipe out the whole amount budgeted for nuclear expansion in the
> province.
>
> Energy Minister George Smitherman announced plans to put its
> nuclear power plans on hold last month because the bid was "billions"
> away from the $6 billion the province had expected to pay.
>
> Neither Smitherman nor McGuinty would reveal the amount of the
> bid from AECL, deemed the only compliant proposal out of three offers,
> citing confidentiality agreements.
>
> Greenpeace analyst Shawn-Patrick Stensil says Prime Minister
> Stephen Harper must say no to what would amount to a $20-billion
> nuclear bailout.
He also blasted Ontario for failing to disclose the cost
> escalation.