Two proposed new nuclear reactors at Darlington unnecessary, say the environmental groups. Photo: Ontario Power Generation.
Ontario government urged to reject nuclear, commit further to green energy
Green energy is a better investment than nuclear reactors for the distressed Ontario power system, says a new report from the Pembina Institute and Greenpeace.
The report, titled Renewable is Doable: Affordable and flexible options for Ontario’s long-term energy plan, says that past forecasts have overestimated the province’s demand for electricity in the coming decade, resulting in plans for more unnecessary nuclear reactors. Investing in a portfolio of conservation and green energy options is a more cost-effective way to meet Ontario’s evolving energy needs. These green energy sources can be built in incremental steps, avoiding the cost overruns associated with large nuclear projects.
This new analysis comes as the Ontario government is reviewing its long-term energy plan, which sets the province’s future electricity mix.
Shawn-Patrick Stensil, Greenpeace energy analyst. Photo: Green Peace.
“It makes no financial or environmental sense that Ontario’s long-term energy plan doesn’t consider alternatives to spending billions on nuclear, especially when green energy costs are falling and many countries are abandoning nuclear altogether,” says Shawn-Patrick Stensil, Greenpeace energy analyst.
Ontario’s current long-term energy plan arbitrarily commits to generating 50 per cent of the province’s electricity with nuclear, regardless of both the financial and environmental costs. Removing this requirement from the next energy plan would allow more affordable green alternatives to compete with nuclear power, say Green Peace and the Pembina Institute.
But the Ontario government has announced several renewable energy programs in 2012. In May, Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli launched a program to give municipalities more control over green energy projects, including supporting small renewable energy projects by making 900 megawatts of new capacity available between now and 2018.
“Ontario is committed to building clean, reliable energy to support our families, businesses, schools and hospitals. It’s also clear that we need to make changes to increase local control over the siting of renewable energy projects,” said Chiarelli.
Bob Chiarelli, Ontario energy minister. Photo: Handout.
Ontario is reducing coal-fired power plants, which currently provide only three per cent of provincial power production, and over the past 10 years has brought more than 3,300 megawatts of renewable energy online, enough to power 900,000 homes each year.
Nuclear power current provides more than 50 per cent of Ontario power requirements. The Liberal government of Kathleen Wynne is considering two new 1,000 megawatt reactors at the Darlington nuclear station. And Ontario Power Generation, a privately-owned company that operates two nuclear reactors, is planning a mid-life overhaul of the Darlington reactors starting in 2016.
The environmental groups are worried that despite decline Ontario power consumption, the government will opt to build the new reactors.
“The numbers are clear. New nuclear reactors would be providing Ontario with power it doesn’t need at a price it can’t afford,” said Tim Weis, Pembina director of renewable energy and efficiency policy.
According to data acquired through a freedom of information request to the Independent Electricity System Operator, Ontario’s grid electricity demand will drop to 1992 levels by 2022. This will make two proposed new nuclear reactors at Darlington unnecessary, say the environmental groups.
They also claim that electricity generated by new reactors is estimated to cost more than 15 cents per kilowatt hour, while a portfolio of green alternatives could provide the same energy for just over 10 cents per kWh and that no nuclear reactor in Ontario has ever been built or rebuilt on time and on budget. Past nuclear projects have gone over budget by anywhere from 40 to 250 per cent.
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