TORONTO, ON — Choosing to scale
up green energy to replace the retiring Pickering nuclear station is more
affordable for Ontarians than buying expensive replacement reactors, says a
report released today by Renewable is Doable, an alliance of organizations
including the Pembina Institute, the Canadian Environmental Law Association and
Greenpeace. Last summer, Ontario
suspended its purchase of two new replacement reactors when their cost
reportedly topped $26 billion — $20 billion more than expected in 2007.
"Faced with
increasing nuclear costs the McGuinty government wisely suspended its purchase
of new reactors last June. Our analysis shows it would be cheaper to continue building
on the success of the government's Green Energy Act than buy expensive new
reactors," says Shawn-Patrick Stensil, Greenpeace's nuclear analyst.
The report, Ontario's Green
Energy Plan 2.0, shows that a mix of green energy technologies and conservation
acquired through the government's Green Energy Act would be 12 to 48 per cent
cheaper than buying new reactors to replace the aging Pickering nuclear
station, which is set to close in 2020 due to high maintenance costs.
"Replacing outdated power plants with a
portfolio of renewables, smart grid technology and efficient use of natural gas
is a trend we are seeing in many other jurisdictions all over the world", said
Tim Weis, Director of Renewable Energy and Efficiency Policy at the Pembina
Institute. "Opening up more space for green energy on the electricity system
will allow the burgeoning renewable energy industry to continue grow and create
new jobs in Ontario."
The report points
out that electricity demand is expected to continue to be reduced over the next
decade, thanks in part to successful energy efficiency programs. As a result,
the province's plan to maintain nuclear generation at historic levels will
place constraints on transmission accessibility and flexibility and soon limit
the expansion of green energy in Ontario.
"Ontario has
already contracted more green electricity in 2010 than it expected it would
over the next 17 years, but outdated nuclear commitments limit clean power's
long-term growth. Upgrading the
McGuinty government's successful green energy and conservation programs would
allow Ontario's green collar workforce to continue expanding and create 27,000
green jobs over the next decade," said Theresa McClenaghan Executive Director
of the Canadian Environmental Law Association.
The report details
how nuclear costs have risen dramatically while green energy has exceeded
expectations since 2006, when Ontario made plans to build new nuclear
reactors. This, the groups say,
should encourage the government to go well beyond its current targets for green
energy.
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Download: Ontario's Green Energy Plan 2.0
Contact:
Tim Weis, Pembina
Institute, Director of Renewable Energy, 613-601-6519
Shawn-Patrick
Stensil, Nuclear Analyst, Greenpeace, 416-884-7053 (English/French)
Theresa
McClenaghan, Executive Director, Canadian Environmental Law Association, 416-
662-8341
