Column misses facts on nuclear energy

[Oscar]

Column misses facts on nuclear energy

[ https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/let ... -a-panacea ]

Re. “Guilbeault’s nuclear war puts ideology over science,” David Staples, March 19
[ https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/col ... xC7bGzQTxk ]

March 22, 2022 SCROLL DOWN . . .

David Staples’ ode to nuclear energy ignores a few vital facts. First, constructing those glorious Candu reactors essentially bankrupted the old Ontario Hydro, leaving Ontario hydro ratepayers paying off an enormous stranded debt for decades.

People in Ontario pay 50 per cent more for electricity than their neighbours in Manitoba and close to double what their neighbours pay in Quebec. You can thank expensive nuclear projects for that. Ontario Power Generation is currently charging double or more than the going rate for solar, wind or waterpower for their nuclear power.

It would take a minimum of 10 years to construct a new reactor (optimistically), which is time we don’t have to lower climate wrecking emissions, as the IPCC has repeatedly made clear.

Alberta has tremendous wind and solar potential and can use B.C.’s waterpower system to store power. Or Alberta could simply become the host site for the millions of highly radioactive fuel rods Ontario doesn’t know what to do with.

Angela Bischoff, director, Ontario Clean Air Alliance, Toronto