Choice between nuclear and wind power for Sask is clear

[Oscar]

Choice between nuclear and wind power for Sask is clear

[ https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/lett ... of%20years ]

Cheaper, lasting clean wind energy for a province with plenty of wind vs. expensive, unproven nuclear tech with radioactive waste

July 09, 2024 Tim Nickel - The Star Phoenix

Our provincial government is loaning $100 million to Enbridge and Six Nations Development to build a wind farm that will produce enough clean electricity to power more than 100,000 homes a year.

So far so good.

But meanwhile, that same government has given the Sask. Research Council $80 million as a first step in bringing an eVinci micro nuclear reactor to the province, which would serve only 3,000 homes. And that $80 million is just for licensing and project costs; the reactor itself will set taxpayers back another $100 million or thereabouts and last eight to 10 years.

In comparison, the wind farm can last 25 years or so — at which point it will need refurbishing and the blades can be recycled, while the reactor, if it’s anything like the Small Modular Nuclear Reactors that are also being proposed, will be completely useless after its life span, and completely radioactive as well.

Cheaper and lasting clean wind energy for a province with plenty of wind vs. expensive, unproven nuclear technology with radioactive waste as the gift that keeps on giving long after we’re gone.

The choice is clear, and it needs to be a choice; we can’t have it both ways unless we want to gamble with the future of our youth by putting the environment at risk for thousands of years.

Tim Nickel, Saskatoon