Darlington plant bidders get extension

TORONTO, ONTARIO - Ontario is delaying by three months a decision on which company will build a new nuclear plant at Darlington to give bidders – including Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. – more time.

Critics slammed the move as a bad omen for plans to get the new reactors producing much-needed electricity by July 1, 2018.

But Energy Minister George Smitherman said it was necessary because bids on a nuclear plant are complicated and the bidders need more time to consult with the government on their efforts.

Bids had been due Oct. 1 under guidelines set out this spring.

The new deadline is Dec. 31, by which time the province had promised it would make a decision on whether the contract would go to Ontario-based AECL, French nuclear giant Areva NP, or Westinghouse.

Smitherman, who took over the energy portfolio in a cabinet shuffle last month, is now promising a decision by the end of March 2009.

Opposition critics warned this could be the first of many delays as the province looks to boost nuclear generating capacity after coal-fired power plants are closed in 2014.

"It's an ongoing habit of this government to continually put things off," said Progressive Conservative MPP and energy critic John Yakabuski (Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke), noting the Liberals have already broken promises to close the coal plants in 2007 and 2009.

"This delay is just symptomatic of what one often sees with nuclear power," added New Democrat MPP and energy critic Peter Tabuns (Toronto-Danforth), citing numerous delays in building the original Darlington plant and refurbishments of other reactors in Ontario.

The delay should not affect plans to have construction on the new reactors at Darlington begin in 2012 and be ready for operation six years later, said Diane Flanagan, of Infrastructure Ontario, the provincial agency in charge of the nuclear procurement effort.

But anti-nuclear activist Shawn-Patrick Stensil of Greenpeace questioned whether the delay would slow other parts of the process, such as the winning bidder getting a construction licence from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission in 2009.

Related News

power-outages-mitigate-wildfire-risks

Power Outages to Mitigate Wildfire Risks

COLORADO - Colorado, known for its stunning landscapes and outdoor recreation, has implemented proactive measures to reduce the risk of wildfires by strategically shutting off power in high-risk areas. This approach, while disruptive, aims to safeguard communities, protect natural resources, and mitigate the devastating impacts of wildfires that have become increasingly prevalent in the region.

The decision to initiate power outages as a preventative measure against wildfires underscores Colorado's commitment to proactive fire management and public safety. With climate change contributing to hotter and drier conditions, the state faces heightened wildfire risks, necessitating innovative strategies to minimize ignition sources and…

READ MORE
thermal energy to electricity

Turning thermal energy into electricity

READ MORE

ontario-clean-electricity-regulations

Ontario's Clean Electricity Regulations: Paving the Way for a Greener Future

READ MORE

calgary deep freeze

Alberta sets new electricity usage record during deep freeze

READ MORE

Can COVID-19 accelerate funding for access to electricity?

READ MORE