Public consultations opportunity to support nuclear energy for Ontario, says Greenpeace co-founder
TORONTO, ONTARIO - Greenpeace co-founder Dr. Patrick Moore said public consultations on Ontario's energy supply are an opportunity to communicate the vital importance of nuclear energy to the province's future.
"Nuclear energy is the only non-greenhouse-gas-emitting power source that can effectively replace fossil fuels while helping to alleviate the massive shortfall of 24,000 megawatts in Ontario's energy supply expected by 2025," said Moore, Chairman and Chief Scientist of Greenspirit Strategies Ltd.
"Greenspirit Strategies Senior Vice President Trevor Figueiredo will be attending the consultations on my behalf to emphasize the importance of nuclear power to Ontario's energy future," said Moore.
"The Ontario Power Authority expects by 2025 a shortfall of 24,000 megawatts resulting from increasing demand combined with the scheduled retirements of pollution-prone, greenhouse-gas emitting coal-fired power plants by 2009 and the loss of most of Ontario's existing nuclear facilities as these plants reach the end of their design life," said Moore.
"That shortfall of 24,000 megawatts is equivalent to 80 per cent of Ontario's existing capacity," said Moore.
"We strongly support cost-effective renewables such as wind, hydro and geothermal, but there is no practical way renewables alone will be able to alleviate the expected shortfall," said Moore.
"It is simply not realistic - as the anti-nuclear energy activists argue - to replace existing nuclear and coal-fired plants, which currently make up 68 per cent of Ontario's electricity production, with renewables," said Moore.
"The only way to alleviate this shortfall is by building new nuclear facilities, and since these plants take 10 years to build, we must start planning for them now," said Moore.
"Nuclear power is an extremely safe, clean and reliable form of energy," said Moore.
"There has never been a serious accident at any Canadian nuclear facility since the establishment of the industry over 40 years ago," said Moore.
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