Bruce Power blames declining demand for power as it drops plans for new nukes
TIVERTON, Ont. (The Associated Press) - Jul 23
>
> The declining demand for electricity in Ontario prompted
> privately run Bruce Power to announce Thursday that it was dropping
> plans to build new nuclear reactors in Nanticoke and in Bruce County,
> plans that never had the approval of the provincial government.
>
> The move comes just weeks after the Ontario government announced
> an unspecified delay in its own plans to build two new reactors at the
> Darlington nuclear station.
>
> Bruce Power, which operates six nuclear reactors at Kincardine on
> the shores of Lake Huron, announced it was withdrawing its site
> licence applications for the new reactors.
>
> It also told the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission the Canadian
> Environmental Assessment Agency that it would suspend environmental
> assessments in both locations.
>
> "We have gone through the business case and looking at the supply
> of electricity that's needed in the immediate future in Ontario," said
> Murray Elston, vice-president of corporate affairs at Bruce.
>
> "With the economy where it is, it has driven us to say it's time
> for us to suspend the activities on new (nuclear) build."
>
> Greenpeace Canada said the decision by Bruce Power was further
> proof that nuclear-generated electricity is unaffordable.
>
> "The wheels are coming off the so-called nuclear renaissance,"
> said
> Greenpeace spokesman Shawn-Patrick Stensil in a release.
>
> "Bruce Power simply couldn't continue to keep up the charade that
> it could afford to build $26 billion reactors."
>
> Energy Minister George Smitherman had publicly opposed Bruce
> Power's plans to build new nuclear reactors, and accused the company
> of trying to influence government policy.
>
> Smitherman said last year that Bruce had "no government support
> in any form'" for its bid to construct new reactors at Nanticoke near
> Lake Erie.
>
> The Energy Minister was unavailable to comment Thursday on
> Bruce's move to drop its plan for new reactors, while his office noted
> the decision was made by a private company and declined further
> comment.
>
> Smitherman announced last month that Ontario's Liberal government
> was delaying its own plan to build two new reactors at the existing
> Darlington nuclear station after cost estimates soared billions of
> dollars beyond expectations.
>
> Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.'s bid would cost billions more than
> the province was willing to pay, Smitherman said in late June as he
> hinted federal aid could help seal the deal.
>
> "AECL is the government of Canada's company so, absolutely, the
> government of Canada is in the driver's seat with respect to giving
> AECL the opportunity to build new reactors in Ontario."
>
> AECL was the only one of three candidates bidding to build the
> new reactors to properly address requirements around assuming
> responsibility for cost overruns, said Smitherman. The two others in
> the running were U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Co. and Areva Group
> of France.
>
> Earlier this year, the federal government announced plans to put
> AECL's nuclear reactor business up for sale, and the future of the
> Crown corporation is widely considered to be tied to a successful
> Ontario bid.
>
> Smitherman has not revealed the price tag attached to any of the
> offers or given a timeline for how long the postponement of the new
> nuclear builds would last.
>
> Ontario plans to spend $26 billion on a major expansion of
> nuclear power over the next two decades to keep it generating about 50
> per cent of the province's electricity.
>
>
> The declining demand for electricity in Ontario prompted
> privately run Bruce Power to announce Thursday that it was dropping
> plans to build new nuclear reactors in Nanticoke and in Bruce County,
> plans that never had the approval of the provincial government.
>
> The move comes just weeks after the Ontario government announced
> an unspecified delay in its own plans to build two new reactors at the
> Darlington nuclear station.
>
> Bruce Power, which operates six nuclear reactors at Kincardine on
> the shores of Lake Huron, announced it was withdrawing its site
> licence applications for the new reactors.
>
> It also told the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission the Canadian
> Environmental Assessment Agency that it would suspend environmental
> assessments in both locations.
>
> "We have gone through the business case and looking at the supply
> of electricity that's needed in the immediate future in Ontario," said
> Murray Elston, vice-president of corporate affairs at Bruce.
>
> "With the economy where it is, it has driven us to say it's time
> for us to suspend the activities on new (nuclear) build."
>
> Greenpeace Canada said the decision by Bruce Power was further
> proof that nuclear-generated electricity is unaffordable.
>
> "The wheels are coming off the so-called nuclear renaissance,"
> said
> Greenpeace spokesman Shawn-Patrick Stensil in a release.
>
> "Bruce Power simply couldn't continue to keep up the charade that
> it could afford to build $26 billion reactors."
>
> Energy Minister George Smitherman had publicly opposed Bruce
> Power's plans to build new nuclear reactors, and accused the company
> of trying to influence government policy.
>
> Smitherman said last year that Bruce had "no government support
> in any form'" for its bid to construct new reactors at Nanticoke near
> Lake Erie.
>
> The Energy Minister was unavailable to comment Thursday on
> Bruce's move to drop its plan for new reactors, while his office noted
> the decision was made by a private company and declined further
> comment.
>
> Smitherman announced last month that Ontario's Liberal government
> was delaying its own plan to build two new reactors at the existing
> Darlington nuclear station after cost estimates soared billions of
> dollars beyond expectations.
>
> Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.'s bid would cost billions more than
> the province was willing to pay, Smitherman said in late June as he
> hinted federal aid could help seal the deal.
>
> "AECL is the government of Canada's company so, absolutely, the
> government of Canada is in the driver's seat with respect to giving
> AECL the opportunity to build new reactors in Ontario."
>
> AECL was the only one of three candidates bidding to build the
> new reactors to properly address requirements around assuming
> responsibility for cost overruns, said Smitherman. The two others in
> the running were U.S.-based Westinghouse Electric Co. and Areva Group
> of France.
>
> Earlier this year, the federal government announced plans to put
> AECL's nuclear reactor business up for sale, and the future of the
> Crown corporation is widely considered to be tied to a successful
> Ontario bid.
>
> Smitherman has not revealed the price tag attached to any of the
> offers or given a timeline for how long the postponement of the new
> nuclear builds would last.
>
> Ontario plans to spend $26 billion on a major expansion of
> nuclear power over the next two decades to keep it generating about 50
> per cent of the province's electricity.
>