Clean energy solution demands nuclear

Ottawa and eastern Ontario had its electricity infrastructure updated in 1998, though it wasn't a voluntary undertaking: The ice storm ripped down wires, snapped poles and wrecked transmission towers.

The interruption of electrical service caused by the ice storm had profound effects. Seniors had to be gathered from residences and plunked into community centres, where generators kept them warm. Church halls and high schools became shelters. Farmers lost valuable animals when their automated equipment could no longer work. Some eastern Ontario residents just emptied their home pipes and moved to Toronto where the storm had left power intact.

Electricity runs our businesses, provides sustenance, pumps and cleans our water. Electricity is a necessity. Yet the other day there was a failure at Etobicoke's Manby Transformer Station, and the electricity went out in parts of Toronto, during the royal visit there. Even on the most important of occasions, Ontario's electric supply is unsure. That's a bad message to send to business, potential investors and homeowners.

One of the critical components of an industrial society is access to affordable, reliable electricity. Without it, a high-tech society simply cannot thrive or even survive.

The one notable benefit of an economic recession is the reduction in energy consumption, and that is what has happened in Ontario this last year and a bit. Ontario, in other words, has been given a bit of breathing room to get its electrical supply sorted out. But the province needs to move quickly. This is not a new problem. During the Harris years, remember, the province considered putting diesel generators at strategic locations in Ottawa to create enough energy to prevent the electricity system from running short.

Unfortunately, electricity infrastructure is expensive. Equally unfortunately, it is not a vote-getting expenditure. It only becomes important when it doesn't work.

For awhile, the McGuinty government was poised to invest heavily in nuclear reactors to produce the electricity the province needs. But those efforts have stalled. Does the government believe that Ontario's industrial future is so troubled we might not need that electricity after all? Or could it be that other measures — conservation, smart meters and the like — have made nuclear unnecessary? Or is the province looking to other jurisdictions to serve the needs of Ontarians?

In the end, however, it's hard to envision a long-term energy solution for Ontario — a clean energy solution — that doesn't require new investments in nuclear. The McGuinty government even went so far as to hold an international bidding process for a new plant, but due to cost concerns the project is on hold. Ideally the province would have hired the local guys — Atomic Energy of Canada Limited — to design and construct any new reactors, but the AECL's ability to build on time and on budget is open to question. If Ontario doesn't have sufficient confidence to buy from AECL, then who will purchase Canadian reactors overseas? Probably no one, and that spells the end of Canada's nuclear industry.

None of this is easy. AECL has the kind of high-tech jobs Canada needs, but at what cost? Meanwhile, conservation and wind turbines are clearly not enough to fuel the RIMs of Ontario. Canadians need clear nuclear policy from the federal and provincial governments.

Related News

bruce ppe

Biggest in Canada: Bruce Power doubles PPE donation

WINGHAM, ONT. - The world’s largest nuclear plant, just made Canada’s largest donation of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Bruce Power is doubling it’s initial donation of 600,000 masks, gloves and gowns for front-line health workers, to 1.2 million pieces of PPE.

The company, which operates the Bruce Nuclear station near Kincardine, Ont. plans to have the equipment in the hands of hospitals, long-term care homes and first responders by the end of April.

It’s not the only thing Bruce Power is doing to help out Ontario during the COVID-19 pandemic:

 Bruce Power has donated $300,000 to 37 food banks in Midwestern Ontario.

power lines

NDP takes aim at approval of SaskPower 8 per cent rate hike

READ MORE

coronavirus

BC Hydro launches program to help coronavirus-affected customers with their bills

READ MORE

greenland ice sheet

The UK’s energy plan is all very well but it ignores the forecast rise in global sea-levels

READ MORE

hydro one chart

Research shows that Ontario electricity customers want more choice and flexibility

READ MORE