<![CDATA[Grist - Comment Feed for Costs kill Ontario’s new nukes]]> Grist Comment Feed en Comment #1 by Dave from Canada http://www.grist.org/article/costs-kill-ontarios-new-nukes/ Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:30:34 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/costs-kill-ontarios-new-nukes/1 Sadly, the Minister indicated that Ontario "remains committed to nukes" and the news release says "Nuclear power... provides a reliable, stable and clean supply of base load electricity."

Clean?!

(Hopefully, the new rate structure for electricity and investments in renewables will help Ontario reduce the need for new nuclear supplies. Or we will see a new RFP...)

]]> Sadly, the Minister indicated that Ontario "remains committed to nukes" and the news release says "Nuclear power... provides a reliable, stable and clean supply of base load electricity."

Clean?!

(Hopefully, the new rate structure for electricity and investments in renewables will help Ontario reduce the need for new nuclear supplies. Or we will see a new RFP...)

]]> Comment #2 by Des Emery http://www.grist.org/article/costs-kill-ontarios-new-nukes/ Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:47:06 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/costs-kill-ontarios-new-nukes/2 A lot of people don't like Nuclear anything. Atomic Energy Canada Limited is no exception, even if it has the best record of use, the most reliable generation, etc. The federal government has made no secret of its desire to "privatize" what has always been a public utility. George Smitherman is a wily and pro-active "left-leaning" politico and his abrupt decision not to sink tax money into private pockets (the other bidders for supplying atomic energy to Ontario are Areva of France and General Electric of the USA) can be seen as his saying "No way" to Harper's efforts to find someone to take over AECL which made the lowest bid with the most favourable (to Canada)  conditions attached.

]]> A lot of people don't like Nuclear anything. Atomic Energy Canada Limited is no exception, even if it has the best record of use, the most reliable generation, etc. The federal government has made no secret of its desire to "privatize" what has always been a public utility. George Smitherman is a wily and pro-active "left-leaning" politico and his abrupt decision not to sink tax money into private pockets (the other bidders for supplying atomic energy to Ontario are Areva of France and General Electric of the USA) can be seen as his saying "No way" to Harper's efforts to find someone to take over AECL which made the lowest bid with the most favourable (to Canada)  conditions attached.

]]> Comment #3 by sindark http://www.grist.org/article/costs-kill-ontarios-new-nukes/ Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:16:29 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/costs-kill-ontarios-new-nukes/3 So far, this seems like a ploy to get extra support from the federal government. The real fate of nuclear in Ontario probably won't be determined until the feds decide what (if anything) to offer in subsidies and guarantees.

]]> So far, this seems like a ploy to get extra support from the federal government. The real fate of nuclear in Ontario probably won't be determined until the feds decide what (if anything) to offer in subsidies and guarantees.

]]> Comment #4 by Des Emery http://www.grist.org/article/costs-kill-ontarios-new-nukes/ Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:14:46 -0700 http://www.grist.org/article/costs-kill-ontarios-new-nukes/4 Exactly, Sindark.  Smitherman can play poker with the Feds as well as anyone.  He is trying to force Harper's hand, make him ante up his real intentions with relation to AECL.  If Ontario 'buys' new power from the Feds, Harper will find it much easier to sell off Chalk River to Areva or GE and then shift responsibility for nuke power to the new owners and put the blame for extra costs onto Ontario.  If Harper can't use Ontario's committal to buy future power from AECL, Harper might have to take a much lower price for Chalk River (and The Maple Reactors) and suffer the consequences when our deficit is already mushrooming like the proverbial atomic cloud.  Public opinion really does count in his machinations. 

]]> Exactly, Sindark.  Smitherman can play poker with the Feds as well as anyone.  He is trying to force Harper's hand, make him ante up his real intentions with relation to AECL.  If Ontario 'buys' new power from the Feds, Harper will find it much easier to sell off Chalk River to Areva or GE and then shift responsibility for nuke power to the new owners and put the blame for extra costs onto Ontario.  If Harper can't use Ontario's committal to buy future power from AECL, Harper might have to take a much lower price for Chalk River (and The Maple Reactors) and suffer the consequences when our deficit is already mushrooming like the proverbial atomic cloud.  Public opinion really does count in his machinations. 

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