Automatic reply: Request to Withdraw Intervener Status from EUB Matter #541
Conor R. O'Neil<coneil@stewartmckelvey.com> | Tue, Dec 13, 2022 at 12:06 PM |
| To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | |
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Request to Withdraw Intervener Status from EUB Matter #541
| wylie1@nb.sympatico.ca wylie1@nb.sympatico.ca |  Tue, Dec 13, 2022 at 10:35 AM |
David Amos<david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com> | Tue, Dec 13, 2022 at 12:06 PM |
| To: "wylie1@nb.sympatico.ca wylie1@nb.sympatico.ca" <wylie1@nb.sympatico.ca>, Megan.Mitton@gnb.ca, "Holland, Mike (LEG)" <mike.holland@gnb.ca>, "blaine.higgs" <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, "kris.austin" <kris.austin@gnb.ca>, "michelle.conroy" <michelle.conroy@gnb.ca>, "David.Coon" <David.Coon@gnb.ca>, "Arseneau, Kevin (LEG)" <kevin.a.arseneau@gnb.ca>, "Seamus.ORegan" <Seamus.ORegan@parl.gc.ca> | |
| Cc: "Zarnett, Paula" <pzarnett@bdrenergy.com>, "Garrett, Jeff" <jeff.garrett@sjenergy.com>, "Scott, Stoll" <sstoll@profcorp.com>, "O'Neil, Conor" <coneil@stewartmckelvey.com>, "Hoyt, Len" <len.hoyt@mcinnescooper.com>, "Gauthier, Louis-Philippe" <louis-philippe.gauthier@cfib.ca>, "Waycott, Stephen" <SWaycott@nbpower.com>, "Petrie, James" <jpetrie@nbpower.com>, "Crawford, Brad" <bcrawford@nbpower.com>, "Young, David" <Dave.Young@nbeub.ca>, "Rubin, Nancy, G" <nrubin@stewarmckelvey.com>, "Wood, Shelley" <shelley.wood@sjenergy.com>, "Roy, Pierre" <pierreroy@edmundston.ca>, New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board <general@nbeub.ca>, "Herrington, Abigail" <Aherrington@lawsoncreamer.com>, "Clements, Leona" <Imclements@stewartmckelvey.com>, "Hanrahan, Dion" <hanrahan.dion@jdirving.com>, "Comeau, Louise" <louise.comeau@conservationcouncil.ca>, "Colwell, Susan" <Susan.colwell@nbeub.ca>, "Gordon, Laura" <lgordon@nbpower.com>, "Ouellette, Darcy" <darcy.ouellette@twinriverspaper.com>, "Sollows, David" <david.sollows@gnb.ca>, "Daly, Gerard" <daly@nbnet.nb.ca>, Regulatory <nbpregulatory@nbpower.com>, "Mitchell, Kathleen" <Kathleen.Mitchell@bneub.ca>, "Lavigne, David" <dave.lavigne@libertyutilities.com>, "Dionne, Dan" <dan.dionne@perth-andover.com>, "Volpé, Gilles" <Gilles.volpe@libertyutilities.com>, "Williams, Richard, A" <richard.williams@gnb.ca>, "Gionet, Frederic" <frederic.gionet@cfib.ca>, "Furey, John" <JohnFurey@fureylegal.com>, "Rajeski, Tyler" <tyler.rajeski@twinriverspaper.com>, "Otis, Véronique" <veronique.otis@nbeub.ca>, "Gellner, Brandy" <Brandy.Gellner@libertyutilities.com>, "Murphy, Darren" <DAMurphy@nbpower.com>, "Dickie, Michael" <Michael.Dickie@nbeub.ca> | |
Why is it that I am not surprised? Deja Vu Anyone??? https://davidraymondamos3. Sunday, 11 December 2022 Nuclear opponents taking 'best shot' to slow approval of N.B.'s small reactors https://www.cbc.ca/news/ https://davidraymondamos3. Monday, 7 December 2020 Questions abound about New Brunswick's embrace of small nuclear reactors https://www.cbc.ca/news/ Questions abound about New Brunswick's embrace of small nuclear reactors Critics question business case, but CEO says the market is 'screaming' for the units Jacques Poitras · CBC News · Posted: Dec 07, 2020 6:00 AM AT The Point Lepreau nuclear plant is NB Power's most important generating station, and earns an estimated $50,000 an hour for the utility when it's operating. (Submitted by NB Power) When Mike Holland talks about small modular nuclear reactors, he sees dollar signs. When the Green Party hears about them, they see danger signs. The loquacious Progressive Conservative minister of energy development recently quoted NB Power's eye-popping estimates of the potential economic impact of the reactors: thousands of jobs and a $1 billion boost to the provincial economy. "New Brunswick is positioned to not only participate in this opportunity, but to be a world leader in the SMR field," Holland said in the legislature last month. 'Huge risk' nuclear deal could let Ontario push N.B. aside, says consultant 'Many issues' with modular nuclear reactors says environmental lawyer Green MLAs David Coon and Kevin Arseneau responded cheekily by ticking off the Financial and Consumer Services Commission's checklist on how to spot a scam. Is the sales pitch from a credible source? Is the windfall being promised by a reputable institution? Is the risk reasonable? For small nuclear reactors, they said, the answer to all those questions is no. "The last thing we need to do is pour more public money down the nuclear-power drain," Coon said, reminding MLAs of the Point Lepreau refurbishment project that went $1 billion over budget. The Greens aside, New Brunswick politicians have embraced small modular reactors, which they say can both create jobs and help solve the climate crisis. Smaller and cheaper, supporters say They're "small" because, depending on the design, they would generate from three to 300 megawatts of electricity, less than, for example, Point Lepreau's 660 megawatts. It's the modular design that is supposed to make them more affordable. Rather than being built from scratch on site, components are to be manufactured elsewhere, sometimes in existing factories, then shipped and assembled.. Premier Blaine Higgs is a fervent supporter, but in the last provincial election the Liberals promised they’d do even more than Higgs to promote them. (CBC) Premier Blaine Higgs is a fervent supporter, but in the last provincial election the Liberals promised they'd do even more than Higgs to promote them. Under Brian Gallant, the Liberals handed $10 million to two Saint John companies working on SMRs, ARC Nuclear and Moltex Energy. Greens point to previous fiascoes The Greens and other opponents of nuclear power fear SMRS are the latest in a long line of silver-bullet fiascoes, from the $23 million spent on the Bricklin in 1975 to $63.4 million in loans and loan guarantees to the Atcon Group a decade ago. "It seems that [ARC and Moltex] have been targeting New Brunswick for another big handout ... because it's going to take billions of dollars to build these things, if they ever get off the drawing board," said Susan O'Donnell, a University of New Brunswick researcher. O'Donnell, who studies technology adoption in communities, is part of a small new group called the Coalition for Responsible Energy Development formed this year to oppose SMRs. "What we really need here is a reasonable discussion about the pros and cons of it," she said. Government touts economic spinoffs According to the Higgs government's throne speech last month, if New Brunswick companies can secure just one per cent of the Canadian market for small reactors, the province would see $190 million in revenue. The figures come from a study conducted for NB Power by University of Moncton economist Pierre-Marcel Desjardins. But a four-page public summary does not include any sales projections and NB Power did not provide them to CBC News. Opponents of nuclear power fear SMRS are the latest in a long line of silver-bullet fiascoes, from the $23 million spent on the Bricklin in 1975 to $63.4 million in loans and loan guarantees to the Atcon Group a decade ago. (CBC) "What we didn't see was a market analysis," O'Donnell said. "How viable is the market? … They're all based on a hypothetical market that probably doesn't exist." O'Donnell said her group asked for the full report but was told it's confidential because it contains sensitive commercial information. Holland said he's confident there will be buyers. "It won't be hard to find communities that will be looking for a cost effective, affordable, safe alternative to generate their electricity and do it in a way that emits zero emissions," he said. Market 'screaming' for small reactors, CEO says SMRs come in different sizes and while some proponents talk about using "micro" reactors to provide electricity to remote northern First Nations communities, ARC and Moltex plan larger models to sell to power utilities looking to shift away from coal and gas. "We have utilities and customers across Canada, across the United States, across Asia and Europe saying they desperately want a technology like this," said Moltex's Saint John-based CEO for North America Rory O'Sullivan. "The market is screaming for this product," he said, adding "all of the utilities" in Canada are interested in Moltex's reactors 'It won't be hard to find communities that will be looking for a cost effective, affordable, safe alternative to generate their electricity and do it in a way that emits zero emissions,' said Mike Holland, Minister of Energy Development. (Global News/Pool) ARC's CEO Norm Sawyer is more specific, guessing 30 per cent of his SMR sales will be in Atlantic Canada, 30 per cent in Ontario and 40 per cent in Alberta and Saskatchewan — all provincial power grids. O'Donnell said it's an important question because without a large number of guaranteed sales, the high cost of manufacturing SMRs would make the initiative a money-loser. The cost of building the world's only functioning SMR, in Russia, was four times what was expected. An Australian government agency said initial cost estimates for such major projects "are often initially too low" and can "overrun." Up-front costs can be huge University of British Columbia physicist M.V. Ramana, who has authored studies on the economics of nuclear power, said SMRs face the same financial reality as any large-scale manufacturing. "You're going to spend a huge amount of money on the basic fixed costs" at the outset, he said, with costs per unit becoming more viable only after more units are built and sold. He estimates a company would have to build and sell more than 700 SMRs to break even, and said there are not enough buyers for that to happen. But Sawyer said those estimates don't take into account technological advances. "A lot of what's being said ... is really based on old technology," he said, estimating ARC would be viable even if it sold an amount of reactors in the low double digits. O'Sullivan agrees. "In fact, just the first one alone looks like it will still be economical," he said. "In reality, you probably need a few … but you're talking about one or two, maximum three [to make a profit] because you don't need these big factories." 'Paper designs' prove nothing, says expert Ramana doesn't buy it. "These are all companies that have been started by somebody who's been in the nuclear industry for some years, has a bright idea, finds an angel investor who's given them a few million dollars," he said. "They have a paper design, or a Power Point design. They have not built anything. They have not tested anything. To go from that point … to a design that can actually be constructed on the field is an enormous amount of work." Both CEOs acknowledge the skepticism about SMRs. 'The market is screaming for this product,' said Moltex’s Saint John-based CEO for North America, Rory O’Sullivan. (Brian Chisholm, CBC) "I understand New Brunswick has had its share of good investments and its share of what we consider questionable investments," said Sawyer, who grew up in Rexton. But he said ARC's SMR is based on a long-proven technology and is far past the on-paper design stage "so you reduce the risk." Moltex is now completing the first phase of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission's review of its design, a major hurdle. ARC completed that phase last year. But, Ramana said there are problems with both designs. Moltex's molten salt model has had "huge technical challenges" elsewhere while ARC's sodium-cooled system has encountered "operational difficulties." Ottawa says nuclear is needed for climate goals The most compelling argument for looking at SMRs may be Ottawa's climate change goals. The national climate plan requires NB Power to phase out burning coal at its Belledune generating station by 2030. It's scrambling to find a replacement source of electricity. The Trudeau government's throne speech in October promised to "support investments in renewable energy and next-generation clean energy and technology solutions." And federal Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan told CBC earlier this year that he's "very excited" about SMRs. "We have not seen a model where we can get to net-zero emissions by 2050 without nuclear," he said. O'Donnell said while nuclear power doesn't emit greenhouse gases, it's hardly a clean technology because of the spent nuclear fuel waste. Government support is key She also wonders why, if SMRs make so much sense, ARC and Moltex are relying so much on government money rather than private capital. Holland said "the vast majority" of funding for the two companies "has to come from private sector investments, who will be very careful to make sure they get a return on that investment." Sawyer said ARC has three dollars for every dollar it has received from the province, and General Electric has a minority ownership stake in its U.S.-based parent company. O'Sullivan said Moltex has attracted $5 million from a European engineering firm and $6 million from "the first-ever nuclear crowdfunding campaign." But he said for new technologies, including nuclear power, "you need government to show policy support. "Nuclear technology has always been developed by governments around the world. This is a very new change to have an industry come in and lead this, so private investors can't take the risk to do that on their own," he said. So far, Ottawa hasn't put up any funding for ARC or Moltex. During the provincial election campaign, Higgs implied federal money was imminent, but there's been no announcement in the almost three months since then. Last month the federal government announced $20 million for Terrestrial Energy, an Ontario company working on SMRs. "We know we have the best technology pitch," O'Sullivan said. "There's others that are slightly more advanced than us, but we have the best overall proposition and we think that's going to win out at the end of the day." But O'Donnell said her group plans to continue asking questions about SMRs. "I think what we really need is to have an honest conversation about what these are so that New Brunswickers can have all the facts on the table," she said. About the Author Jacques Poitras Provincial Affairs reporter Jacques Poitras has been CBC's provincial affairs reporter in New Brunswick since 2000. Raised in Moncton, he also produces the CBC political podcast Spin Reduxit. CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices 212 Comments Commenting is now closed for this story. View your notifications David Amos "The loquacious Progressive Conservative minister of energy development" ??? Methinks a lot of wild turkeys would strongly disagree N'esy Pas? View your notifications David Amos Methinks folks should check the work of the Canadian Nuclear Laboratories N'esy Pas? View your notifications David Amos Methinks Minister Mikey would have to admit that I crossed paths with the same characters he has within the "Coalition for Responsible Energy Development" since I first ran for public office in NB in 2004 N'esy Pas? View the profile of "Ray Oliver" Ray Oliver Reply to @David Amos: You run in some pretty prestigious circles. View your notifications David Amos Reply to @Ray Oliver: Go Figure https://www.cbc.ca/news/ View the profile of "Johnny Jakobs" Johnny Jakobs Reply to @David Amos: relevancy? Is Ray like Barry? View your notifications David Amos Reply to @Johnny Jakobs: Scroll down to read his pal's comments View the profile of "Ray Oliver" Ray Oliver Reply to @David Amos: Whos pal are you referring too? Johnny's? | |
Nuclear opponents taking 'best shot' to slow approval of N.B.'s small reactors
Minister says momentum growing for non-emitting technology
They're asking the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency to reverse an exemption for ARC Clean Technology's proposal from the federal impact assessment process.
That would send the review to public hearings that would slow the process and give opponents a platform to argue against the reactors.
"It's to make people aware of the risks. We want the impact assessment to bring the risks out into the sunlight," said Ann McAllister, a member of the Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick.
Ann McAllister belongs to the Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick. (Submitted by Ann McAllister)
"Done right, the assessment process should include independent experts. … In that sense, it's the best shot we have to bring the risks out into the open."
Under federal legislation, federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault can reverse the exemption "if the project may cause adverse direct or incidental effects within areas of federal jurisdiction" or if public concerns about that warrant no exemption, the agency said.
Federal
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault is a former activist who once
opposed nuclear power but said recently the technology may be required
to hold global temperature increases to targets set in 2015. (CBC)
Guilbeault must decide by Jan. 2 whether to reverse ARC's exemption.
Political momentum growing
ARC is one of two Saint John-based companies proposing to pilot a small reactor next to NB Power's existing Point Lepreau nuclear generating station.
Company CEO Bill Labbe said an additional assessment wouldn't compromise ARC's ability to get a first reactor operating at Lepreau by 2030.
The political momentum for nuclear power has grown in the last year. The war in Ukraine and the resulting squeeze on world oil markets are forcing governments to accelerate their search for alternatives to fossil fuels.
In October, the Canada Infrastructure Bank, a federal Crown corporation, announced it would provide Ontario Power Generation with a $970-million loan to build the first SMR at Darlington, Ont.
New
Brunswick Energy Development Minister Mike Holland says an assessment
of ARC would be redundant because the same technology has already
operated in larger-scale reactors. (Jacques Poitras/CBC)
New Brunswick Energy Development Minister Mike Holland called the federal announcement "a very positive affirmation of the sector in general."
Ottawa sees nuclear power — which does not emit greenhouse gases — as key to its reduction targets. Holland said that view is getting more acceptance.
"The landscape of energy today and the conversation around it, versus the conversation two years ago, is absolutely different," he said.
"We've had to look at different global realities and perhaps even have more folks look at a more creative way of moving away from fossil fuels."
Germany has delayed the shutdown of its last three nuclear reactors while it searches for new sources of energy abroad.
Port of Belledune interested in SMRs
The Port of Belledune in northern New Brunswick recently announced plans to use one of ARC's small reactors to power the potential future expansion of hydrogen energy generated there for export.
That would see an SMR operating at Belledune between 2030 and 2035, the port said in a news release.
The port hopes to export hydrogen power to Germany and other European countries looking to end their dependence on Russian oil and gas.
Chief Terry Richardson of Pabineau First Nation, near Bathurst said he sees SMRs as a good option. (Alexandre Silberman/CBC)
Ottawa removed small modular nuclear reactors from the list of projects requiring impact assessments in 2019.
Even so, the proposal from the other Saint John-based SMR company, Moltex Clean Energy, will require one because of its plans to recycle nuclear waste.
But ARC is exempt unless the activists can persuade Guilbeault.
"The goal is to make more people aware of the risks of SMRs," McAllister said.
"The impact assessment is the only process that has that kind of comprehensive examination."
Guilbeault is a former environment activist who once opposed nuclear power but said recently that the technology may be required to hold global temperature increases to targets set out in Paris in 2015.
"There is a wide consensus out there that we need to use all the non-emitting, from a pollution perspective, technologies that are at our disposal to achieve 1.5 degrees Celsius," he told CBC's The House.
"Obviously, my role is different now from when I was working for non-governmental organizations. My fundamental beliefs haven't changed but my role has changed."
An impact assessment of ARC's technology would look at species at risk, fish habitats, migratory birds, as well as Indigenous rights.
Chief Terry Richardson of Pabineau First Nation, near Bathurst, which signed a consultation agreement with the Port of Belledune in 2018, said he sees SMRs as a good option.
"We're not looking at something that's new, right?" he said.
Coal to be phased out by end of decade
Holland says an assessment of ARC would be redundant because the same technology has already operated in larger-scale reactors.
"I do think the fact that it's a known technology should count for something," he said.
But Labbe said ARC is ready to comply with whatever regulatory process it faces.
The case for nuclear may be even more urgent with the proposed Atlantic Loop project now apparently in jeopardy. That project would see power grids from Quebec and the four Atlantic provinces linked with more transmission cables, making more emissions-free hydroelectricity from Quebec and Labrador available to the region.
That would help New Brunswick and Nova Scotia replace electricity generated by coal, which must be phased out by 2030.
Emera, the parent company of Nova Scotia Power, said in October it would pause its key role in the Atlantic Loop after the provincial government there capped electricity rates.
"There isn't enough money in order to continue to pursue that," CEO Scott Balfour said.
Federal Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc said last month Ottawa still intends to be "a significant partner" in the project and hopes for an agreement in the first quarter of 2023.
Holland says questions about the Atlantic Loop show why SMRs are important.
"When you have jurisdictions that are key to the process saying they don't know if they can invest in it, it would be naive to say it doesn't put the project at risk," he said.
"Let's continue to have that conversation, but let's not make that the only conversation."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
National law group supports impact assessment request for N.B. nuclear reactors
15 groups wrote support letters for the request
The Canadian government says small modular reactors are designed to have lower upfront capital costs and enhanced safety features compared to traditional reactors.
Two companies based in Saint John, ARC Clean Technology and Moltex Energy, have received tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer funding to develop reactors.
Nuclear energy does not emit carbon dioxide that causes climate change, though environmentalists have flagged safety and long-term waste concerns.
The Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick submitted its request for an impact assessment of the proposed small nuclear reactor demonstration project at Point Lepreau.
In a statement to CBC News, ARC Clean Technology said it "fully supports the important regulatory processes designed to protect the environment and well-being of Canadians."
The statement said ARC's small modular reactors offer safe, reliable and carbon-free power and "we are well prepared to participate in any environmental impact processes required by provincial and federal jurisdictions."
The
ARC 100 reactor being developed by Advanced Reactor Concepts. ARC Clean
Technology said it 'fully supports the important regulatory processes
designed to protect the environment and well-being of Canadians.' (ARC Nuclear Canada)
Kerrie Blaise, a lawyer with the Canadian Environmental Law Association, said impact assessments "allow us to consider the impact of a project before it develops."
She calls it a "look before you leap" approach. She said the assessments look at the risks, costs, harm to current and future generations, and the project lifecycle.
She said nuclear projects like reactors don't seem to be triggering the impact assessment process.
"What we're actually seeing is a rollback of the number and the expanse of projects that are actually being subjected to an impact assessment process," said Blaise.
The Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick said in its request that 15 groups across New Brunswick and Canada wrote letters of support for their request. One of the letters came from the Canadian Environmental Law Association.
The association looks at nuclear issues as part of its public-interest legal aid clinic, so Blaise said they were happy to lend their expertise with a letter of support.
Blaise said as a first-of-its-kind project, the small modular reactor project should "attract the most rigorous public review."
The minister of Environment and Climate Change, to whom the request and support letters are addressed, has until Jan. 2 to make a decision about whether there should be an impact assessment, said Blaise.
She said if an impact assessment is granted, that process will have to start and finish before a construction licence is granted.
Blaise said if the impact assessment is granted, it will provide clarity to "what is otherwise just a conceptual design at this time." She said it would put the project through a lens where they can look at waste production and how the project will uphold international climate commitments.
"The issues an impact assessment would review and the information the public would have access to is quite different than what you would see in a more narrow regulatory licensing proceeding."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
With files from Information Morning Fredericton
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/feds-millions-small-nuclear-reactors-1.5955274
Feds to put millions into small nuclear reactor development in N.B.
Provincial Green Party leader calls the announcement a sign of an impending election call
· CBC News · Posted: Mar 18, 2021 4:52 PM AT
A Small Modular Reactor proposed for Oakville, Ont. intended to be
operational in 2029. Two New Brunswick-based proposals have received
government funding to help develop the idea. (Terrestrial Energy)
Taxpayers are pouring tens of millions of additional dollars into subsidizing the development of small modular nuclear reactors in New Brunswick.
Just weeks after the provincial government committed $20 million to support one of the two Saint John companies working on the technology, the federal government has provided more than $50 million for the second firm.
"This initiative marks the beginning of a coordinated effort to ensure New Brunswick is well positioned to become the global leader in the development of SMR technologies," federal cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc, an MP from New Brunswick, said during the announcement in Saint John.
"This will obviously help meet our climate change goals as well."
Of the $56 million LeBlanc announced, $50.5 million goes to Moltex Energy to subsidize its work on developing its stable salt reactor technology.
Almost $5 million is going to NB Power to help prepare the Point Lepreau generating station site for the installation of small modular reactors built by Moltex or ARC Clean Energy, the second company in the mix.
Dominic LeBlanc, the MP for the New Brunswick riding of Beauséjour and minister of intergovernmental affairs, announced more than $50 million for Moltex, one of the companies trying to develop SMRs in New Brunswick. (Jean-François Benoit/CBC)
There's also $560,000 for a research centre at the University of New Brunswick that works on SMR technology.
Green leader David Coon said the large sums are a sign that the federal Liberal government is planning an election call soon and fears Saint John-Rothesay MP Wayne Long could lose.
"They're worried about Saint John, so they found a prime time strategically to pump some money into Saint John," he said.
But LeBlanc said nuclear energy is essential to meeting Canada's emissions-reduction targets because it doesn't rely on fossil fuels and doesn't emit the carbon dioxide that causes warming temperatures.
"We're supporting an energy solution and an energy technology with extraordinary potential not only for the economic future of our province and the country but a real opportunity to change the energy future of the world, and that would be done right here in New Brunswick."
Point Lepreau generating station is also getting $5 million from Ottawa to prepare the site for SMR construction. (CBC)
The New Brunswick Conservation Council immediately denounced the funding as well as the $20 million earlier given to ARC Clean Energy by the Higgs government and $10 million handed to both companies by the previous provincial Liberal government.
Louise Comeau, the council's director of climate change and energy solution, said the same amount could have been spent on $3,000 rebates for 28,000 electric vehicles and $5,000 energy retrofit rebates for 17,000 homes.
"More money is being invested in long-term speculative SMR research than is going to investments to cut greenhouse gas emissions today," she said in a statement.
An anti-SMR group called the Coalition for Responsible Energy Development has raised questions about whether small reactors can ever be viable, given the huge upfront cost of development needed before they can be built and sold.
Governments tout economic benefits
According to the Higgs government, if New Brunswick companies can secure just one per cent of the Canadian market for small reactors, the province would see $190 million in revenue.
Natural Resources and Energy Development Minister Mike Holland says "the vast majority" of funding for Moltex and ARC must come from the private sector. The $20 million the province announced for ARC is contingent on matching private investment.
Both companies say they have private investors lining up. but public money is needed to send a signal to the market.
On Thursday LeBlanc said SMRs are a potential solution for remote northern communities that depend on diesel fuel.
"The development of these technologies can completely change the future of communities like that in northern Canada," he said.
But both ARC and Moltex told CBC News last fall their likely customers are provincial power utilities.
Green Party Leader David Coon says developing SMR's will 'open up a Pandora's box of radioactive waste.' (Shane Fowler/CBC News)
Coon says he's worried that the money will lead to NB Power "popping off the lids" of silos of nuclear waste now stored near the existing Point Lepreau nuclear plant so it can begin "experimenting" with its technology.
Moltex says it can affordably extract the most radioactive parts of the existing waste, now stored in pellet form, to reuse in its process.
The company says the remainder of the spent nuclear fuel would be less radioactive for a shorter amount of time, making ongoing storage easier.
But Coon says it will "open up a Pandora's box of radioactive waste."
About the Author
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/12/questions-abound-about-new-brunswicks.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/questions-small-nuclear-reactors-1.5828784
Questions abound about New Brunswick's embrace of small nuclear reactors
Critics question business case, but CEO says the market is 'screaming' for the units
· CBC News · Posted: Dec 07, 2020 6:00 AM AT
The Point Lepreau nuclear plant is NB Power's most important generating station, and earns an estimated $50,000 an hour for the utility when it's operating. (Submitted by NB Power)
When Mike Holland talks about small modular nuclear reactors, he sees dollar signs.
When the Green Party hears about them, they see danger signs.
The loquacious Progressive Conservative minister of energy development recently quoted NB Power's eye-popping estimates of the potential economic impact of the reactors: thousands of jobs and a $1 billion boost to the provincial economy.
"New Brunswick is positioned to not only participate in this opportunity, but to be a world leader in the SMR field," Holland said in the legislature last month.
Green MLAs David Coon and Kevin Arseneau responded cheekily by ticking off the Financial and Consumer Services Commission's checklist on how to spot a scam.
Is the sales pitch from a credible source? Is the windfall being promised by a reputable institution? Is the risk reasonable?
For small nuclear reactors, they said, the answer to all those questions is no.
"The last thing we need to do is pour more public money down the nuclear-power drain," Coon said, reminding MLAs of the Point Lepreau refurbishment project that went $1 billion over budget.
The Greens aside, New Brunswick politicians have embraced small modular reactors, which they say can both create jobs and help solve the climate crisis.
Smaller and cheaper, supporters say
They're "small" because, depending on the design, they would generate from three to 300 megawatts of electricity, less than, for example, Point Lepreau's 660 megawatts.
It's the modular design that is
supposed to make them more affordable. Rather than being built from
scratch on site, components are to be manufactured elsewhere, sometimes
in existing factories, then shipped and assembled..
Premier Blaine Higgs is a fervent supporter, but in the last provincial election the Liberals promised they’d do even more than Higgs to promote them. (CBC)
Premier Blaine Higgs is a fervent supporter, but in the last provincial election the Liberals promised they'd do even more than Higgs to promote them.
Under Brian Gallant, the Liberals handed $10 million to two Saint John companies working on SMRs, ARC Nuclear and Moltex Energy.
Greens point to previous fiascoes
The Greens and other opponents of nuclear power fear SMRS are the latest in a long line of silver-bullet fiascoes, from the $23 million spent on the Bricklin in 1975 to $63.4 million in loans and loan guarantees to the Atcon Group a decade ago.
"It seems that [ARC and Moltex] have been targeting New Brunswick for another big handout ... because it's going to take billions of dollars to build these things, if they ever get off the drawing board," said Susan O'Donnell, a University of New Brunswick researcher.
O'Donnell, who studies technology adoption in communities, is part of a small new group called the Coalition for Responsible Energy Development formed this year to oppose SMRs.
"What we really need here is a reasonable discussion about the pros and cons of it," she said.
Government touts economic spinoffs
According to the Higgs government's throne speech last month, if New Brunswick companies can secure just one per cent of the Canadian market for small reactors, the province would see $190 million in revenue.
The figures come from a study conducted for NB Power by University of Moncton economist Pierre-Marcel Desjardins.
But a four-page public summary does not include any sales projections and NB Power did not provide them to CBC News.
Opponents of nuclear power fear SMRS are the latest in a long line of silver-bullet fiascoes, from the $23 million spent on the Bricklin in 1975 to $63.4 million in loans and loan guarantees to the Atcon Group a decade ago. (CBC)
"What we didn't see was a market analysis," O'Donnell said. "How viable is the market? … They're all based on a hypothetical market that probably doesn't exist."
O'Donnell said her group asked for the full report but was told it's confidential because it contains sensitive commercial information.
Holland said he's confident there will be buyers.
"It won't be hard to find communities that will be looking for a cost effective, affordable, safe alternative to generate their electricity and do it in a way that emits zero emissions," he said.
Market 'screaming' for small reactors, CEO says
SMRs come in different sizes and while some proponents talk about using "micro" reactors to provide electricity to remote northern First Nations communities, ARC and Moltex plan larger models to sell to power utilities looking to shift away from coal and gas.
"We have utilities and customers across Canada, across the United States, across Asia and Europe saying they desperately want a technology like this," said Moltex's Saint John-based CEO for North America Rory O'Sullivan.
"The market is screaming for this product," he said, adding "all of the utilities" in Canada are interested in Moltex's reactors
'It won't be hard to find communities that will be looking
for a cost effective, affordable, safe alternative to generate their
electricity and do it in a way that emits zero emissions,' said Mike
Holland, Minister of Energy Development. (Global News/Pool)
ARC's CEO Norm Sawyer is more specific, guessing 30 per cent of his SMR sales will be in Atlantic Canada, 30 per cent in Ontario and 40 per cent in Alberta and Saskatchewan — all provincial power grids.
O'Donnell said it's an important question because without a large number of guaranteed sales, the high cost of manufacturing SMRs would make the initiative a money-loser.
The cost of building the world's only functioning SMR, in Russia, was four times what was expected.
An Australian government agency said initial cost estimates for such major projects "are often initially too low" and can "overrun."
Up-front costs can be huge
University of British Columbia physicist M.V. Ramana, who has authored studies on the economics of nuclear power, said SMRs face the same financial reality as any large-scale manufacturing.
"You're going to spend a huge amount of money on the basic fixed costs" at the outset, he said, with costs per unit becoming more viable only after more units are built and sold.
He estimates a company would have to build and sell more than 700 SMRs to break even, and said there are not enough buyers for that to happen.
But Sawyer said those estimates don't take into account technological advances.
"A lot of what's being said ... is really based on old technology," he said, estimating ARC would be viable even if it sold an amount of reactors in the low double digits.
O'Sullivan agrees.
"In fact, just the first one alone looks like it will still be economical," he said. "In reality, you probably need a few … but you're talking about one or two, maximum three [to make a profit] because you don't need these big factories."
'Paper designs' prove nothing, says expert
Ramana doesn't buy it.
"These are all companies that have been started by somebody who's been in the nuclear industry for some years, has a bright idea, finds an angel investor who's given them a few million dollars," he said.
"They have a paper design, or a Power Point design. They have not built anything. They have not tested anything. To go from that point … to a design that can actually be constructed on the field is an enormous amount of work."
Both CEOs acknowledge the skepticism about SMRs.
'The market is screaming for this product,' said Moltex’s Saint John-based CEO for North America, Rory O’Sullivan. (Brian Chisholm, CBC)
"I understand New Brunswick has had its share of good investments and its share of what we consider questionable investments," said Sawyer, who grew up in Rexton.
But he said ARC's SMR is based on a long-proven technology and is far past the on-paper design stage "so you reduce the risk."
Moltex is now completing the first phase of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission's review of its design, a major hurdle. ARC completed that phase last year.
But, Ramana said there are problems with both designs. Moltex's molten salt model has had "huge technical challenges" elsewhere while ARC's sodium-cooled system has encountered "operational difficulties."
Ottawa says nuclear is needed for climate goals
The most compelling argument for looking at SMRs may be Ottawa's climate change goals.
The national climate plan requires NB Power to phase out burning coal at its Belledune generating station by 2030. It's scrambling to find a replacement source of electricity.
The Trudeau government's throne speech in October promised to "support investments in renewable energy and next-generation clean energy and technology solutions."
And federal Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan told CBC earlier this year that he's "very excited" about SMRs.
"We have not seen a model where we can get to net-zero emissions by 2050 without nuclear," he said.
O'Donnell said while nuclear power doesn't emit greenhouse gases, it's hardly a clean technology because of the spent nuclear fuel waste.
Government support is key
She also wonders why, if SMRs make so much sense, ARC and Moltex are relying so much on government money rather than private capital.
Holland said "the vast majority" of funding for the two companies "has to come from private sector investments, who will be very careful to make sure they get a return on that investment."
Sawyer said ARC has three dollars for every dollar it has received from the province, and General Electric has a minority ownership stake in its U.S.-based parent company.
O'Sullivan said Moltex has attracted $5 million from a European engineering firm and $6 million from "the first-ever nuclear crowdfunding campaign."
But he said for new technologies, including nuclear power, "you need government to show policy support.
"Nuclear technology has always been developed by governments around the world. This is a very new change to have an industry come in and lead this, so private investors can't take the risk to do that on their own," he said.
So far, Ottawa hasn't put up any funding for ARC or Moltex. During the provincial election campaign, Higgs implied federal money was imminent, but there's been no announcement in the almost three months since then.
Last month the federal government announced $20 million for Terrestrial Energy, an Ontario company working on SMRs.
"We know we have the best technology pitch," O'Sullivan said. "There's others that are slightly more advanced than us, but we have the best overall proposition and we think that's going to win out at the end of the day."
But O'Donnell said her group plans to continue asking questions about SMRs.
"I
think what we really need is to have an honest conversation about what
these are so that New Brunswickers can have all the facts on the table,"
she said.
About the Author
Methinks a lot of wild turkeys would strongly disagree N'esy Pas?
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/barry-winters-kris-wells-lgbtq-edmonton-hate-charges-1.4201914
We don't need SMRs.
NB Power is going to generate electricity from seawater with some good folks from Florida.
Just ask em'
— Small Modular Reactors: No Solution
There are no costs for nuke waste as it is stored on site ( the NRC has it as .1 cents a kWh) or decomm (NRC has it at .2 cents) since the core will be replaced with an SMR at end of life.
Look forward though to your costing of the coal alternative's dead and air pollution.
Methinks the 40% of the folks who don't vote should agree that you should never vote for any political party N'esy Pas?
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2020 21:03:06 -0400
Subject: YO Mikey Holland your latest nonsense about SMRs to these
dudes sometime
To: ccnr@web.ca, "blaine.higgs" <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, mike.holland@gnb.ca
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
CCNR is a not-for-profit organization, federally incorporated in 1978.
It is dedicated to education and research on all issues related to
nuclear energy, whether civilian or military -- including non-nuclear
alternatives -- especially those pertaining to Canada.
53 Dufferin Road, Hampstead QC
H3X 2X8 Canada
Telephone: (514) 489 5118
e-mail: ccnr@web.ca
https://www.moltexenergy.com/
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2020 16:46:13 -0400
Subject: YO Mikey Holland Check my input about within CBC and Twitter
about your latest nonsense about SMRs Then review the attachments as
you scroll down to enjoy a little Dea Vu over the Yuletide season
To: "kris.austin" <kris.austin@gnb.ca>, "michelle.conroy"
<michelle.conroy@gnb.ca>
Cc: motomaniac333 <motomaniac333@gmail.com>
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Higgs, Premier Blaine (PO/CPM)" <Blaine.Higgs@gnb.ca>
Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2020 20:39:30 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: YO Mikey Holland Check my input about within
CBC and Twitter about your latest nonsense about SMR then review the
attachments as you scroll down to enjoy a little Dea Vu over the
Yuletide season
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for taking the time to write to us.
Due to the high volume of emails that we receive daily, please note
that there may be a delay in our response. Thank you for your
understanding.
If you are looking for current information on Coronavirus, please
visit www.gnb.ca/coronavirus<http://
If this is a Media Request, please contact the Premier’s office at
(506) 453-2144.
Thank you.
Bonjour,
Nous vous remercions d’avoir pris le temps de nous écrire.
Tenant compte du volume élevé de courriels que nous recevons
quotidiennement, il se peut qu’il y ait un délai dans notre réponse.
Nous vous remercions de votre compréhension.
Si vous recherchez des informations à jour sur le coronavirus,
veuillez visiter
www.gnb.ca/coronavirus<http://
S’il s’agit d’une demande des médias, veuillez communiquer avec le
Cabinet du premier ministre au 506-453-2144.
Merci.
Office of the Premier/Cabinet du premier ministre
P.O Box/C. P. 6000
Fredericton, New-Brunswick/Nouveau-Brunswick
E3B 5H1
Canada
Tel./Tel. : (506) 453-2144
Email/Courriel:
premier@gnb.ca/
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Mitton, Megan (LEG)" <Megan.Mitton@gnb.ca>
Date: Mon, 7 Dec 2020 20:39:27 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: YO Mikey Holland Check my input about within
CBC and Twitter about your latest nonsense about SMR then review the
attachments as you scroll down to enjoy a little Dea Vu over the
Yuletide season
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Thank you for your email. This response is to assure you that your
message has been received. I'm in Fredericton and sitting in the
Legislature during the week of December 7th. I welcome and appreciate
receiving comments and questions from constituents. Due a high volume
of email received and temporarily reduced capacity in my office, there
may be a delay before I'm able to respond. Thank you for your
patience.
If this is urgent, please feel free to call: (506) 457-6842
For media requests, please call : 506-429-2285
Thank you once again for contacting me.
-----
Merci pour votre courriel. Cette réponse a pour but de vous assurer
que votre message a bien été reçu. Je suis à Fredericton et je siège à
l'Assemblée législative pendant la semaine du 7 décembre. Je suis
heureuse de recevoir les commentaires et les questions de mes
concitoyens. En raison du volume élevé de courriels reçus et de la
capacité temporairement réduite de mon bureau, il se peut qu'il y ait
un délai avant que je puisse répondre. Je vous remercie de votre
patience.
Si c'est urgent, n'hésitez pas à nous appeler : (506) 457-6842
Pour les demandes des médias, veuillez appeler le : 506-429-2285
Je vous remercie encore une fois de m'avoir contacté.
Megan Mitton
Députée / Member of the Legislative Assembly of NB
Memramcook-Tantramar
Megan.Mitton@gnb.ca
Riding Office / Bureau de circonscription: (506) 378-1565
Office / Bureau - Fredericton: (506) 457-6842
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