SIGN PETITION: Closure of Pickering Nuclear Station in 2018

SIGN PETITION: Closure of Pickering Nuclear Station in 2018

Postby Oscar » Mon Jul 04, 2016 3:09 pm

SIGN PETITION: Former Minister of Energy calls for closure of Pickering Nuclear Station in 2018

[ http://szpin.ca/former-minister-energy- ... tion-2018/ ]

Yesterday, George Smitherman, former Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy for Ontario, called for the closure of the Pickering Nuclear Station in a deputation to the City of Toronto’s Executive Committee. (View Mr. Smitherman’s remarks). [ http://www.cleanairalliance.org/former- ... -shutdown/ ]

Mr. Smitherman suggested that Ontario extend its “cash for clunkers” program to include Pickering and noted that he was informed as Energy Minister as early as 2007 that the plant was nearing the end of its useful life. He also warned that Pickering was an example of badly outdated technology with weak radioactive containment systems.

Mr. Smitherman went on to note that Ontarians are far too passive about the threat posed by an aging nuclear plant on the doorstep of its largest city and suggested that the City of Toronto had every right to express concern, given the likely impacts on residents and first responders of an accident at North America’s 4th oldest nuclear plant. Asked what had motivated him to speak out about Pickering, Mr. Smitherman simply replied “I’m here in my capacity as a father.”

Mr. Smitherman was speaking in favour of Councillors Glenn De Baeremaeker’s and Gord Perks’ motion [ http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaI ... 16.EX16.46 ] that the City of Toronto request the Government of Ontario close the Pickering Nuclear Station in 2018 when its licence expires. He was among a number of speakers who addressed the threats posed by Pickering, including routine releases of radioactive tritium and the continued build up of high level radioactive waste.

Unfortunately, the executive committee adopted precisely the passive response that former Minister Smitherman warned about, and voted to defer the motion indefinitely. Deputy Mayor Minnan-Wong’s motion was supported by Mayor Tory and Councillors Crawford, Di Giorgio, Pasternak, Robinson and Thompson.

The Deputy Mayor’s motion was opposed by Councillors Ainslie, Holland, McMahon and Shiner.

What you can do:

1. Please sign our petition to close Pickering: Close-Pickering.ca
[ http://www.cleanairalliance.org/close-pickering/ ] ;

2. Please help us persuade the candidates in the Scarborough-Rouge River provincial by-election to call for the closure of Pickering in 2018. Please contact me if you can help us with pamphlet distribution in Scarborough-Rouge River.

3. Please pass this message on to your friends.


Thank you.

Angela Bischoff, Outreach Director
Ontario Clean Air Alliance

Ontario Clean Air Alliance
160 John St., #300, Toronto M5V 2E5
Phone: 416 260-2080 x 1
angela@cleanairalliance.org

Ontario Clean Air Alliance

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Oscar
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Re: SIGN PETITION: Closure of Pickering Nuclear Station in

Postby Oscar » Tue Aug 30, 2016 10:13 am

Scarborough-Rouge River By-Election Candidates' responses to OCAA Questionnaire

[ http://www.cleanairalliance.org/ndp-and ... n-in-2018/ ]

August 23, 2016 (***NOTE: Numerous LINKS in Original URL)

NDP and Green Candidates support closing Pickering Nuclear Station in 2018

The NDP and Green Party Scarborough-Rouge River provincial by-election candidates, Neethan Shan and Priyan De Silva, believe that the Pickering Nuclear Station should be closed in 2018, when its licence expires, to protect Scarborough families and to lower our electricity bills.

Their responses are consistent with public opinion – almost 70% of those polled in the riding want the station shuttered in 2018.

On the other hand, according to PC candidate, Raymond Cho, “Ontario’s ratepayers will benefit from the continued operation of the Pickering Generating Station up to 2024…”

According to the Liberal candidate, Piragal Thiru, “I support Ontario Power Generation’s recommendation to continue operation of the plant up to 2024.”

To read the candidates’ full responses to the OCAA questionnaire please click here.
[ http://www.cleanairalliance.org/scarrr/ ]

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is planning to seek a 10-year licence extension, from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, which would allow Pickering to continue to operate until 2028 (the station’s current licence expires in 2018). According to OPG, it wishes to continue to operate Pickering until 2024.

The Pickering Nuclear Station, which was originally designed to operate for 30 years, is now 45 years old. It is the 4th oldest -- and 5th largest -- nuclear station in North America. It is surrounded by more people – 2.2 million within 30 km – than any other nuclear plant on the continent.

Ontario no longer needs Pickering to keep our lights. In 2015, Ontario exported more power than Pickering produced.

Pickering’s fuel and operating costs per kWh are more than double Ontario’s wholesale market price of electricity. As a result, the Independent Electricity System Operator is required to provide OPG with special payments in excess of $900 million per year to subsidize Pickering’s operating deficit.

For more information on Pickering’s costs and alternatives, read Closing the Pickering Nuclear Station in 2018: A Cost-Benefit Analysis at CleanAirAlliance.org

Please pass this onto a friend.

Angela Bischoff, Outreach Director

P.S. If you haven't already done so, please sign our petition to Close Pickering in 2018 when its current licence expires.
[ http://www.cleanairalliance.org/close-pickering/ ]
Oscar
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Posts: 9078
Joined: Wed May 03, 2006 3:23 pm


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