NB Power signs small modular reactors agreement with South Korea nuclear operator
While Indigenous leaders from New Brunswick are raising concerns about nuclear waste in Ottawa, NB Power’s CEO is signing on to a trilateral agreement including one of the world’s largest nuclear operators.
The agreement between NB Power, Saint John-based ARC Clean Technology, and Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power has the goal of “establishing teaming agreements for global SMR fleet deployment,” according to a statement from all three companies on Wednesday.
None of the three CEOs, including Lori Clark from NB Power and Bill Labbe from ARC, were made available for an interview on Wednesday. The agreement was signed at the Reuters SMR and Advanced Reactor 2024 Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
NB Power is planning to add an ARC-100 small modular reactor at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station by 2030, and made an application for site preparation last year. The New Brunswick government has a goal, as stated in its 12-year-energy plan, to add 600 megawatts of SMR energy production to the provincial grid by 2035.
NB Power and ARC Canada have touted small modular reactors as carbon-free energy powered by spent nuclear waste, announcing other SMR agreements with Saskatchewan and seven New Brunswick First Nations.
On Tuesday, Green Party leader Elizabeth May countered claims about small modular reactors being a climate change solution, in a Parliament Hill news conference alongside Chief Hugh Akagi of the Peskotomuhkati Nation and Grand Council Chief Ron Tremblay of the Wolastoqey Nation.
“(Small modular reactors) don’t decrease nuclear waste, they increase nuclear waste,” said May. “They increase high level nuclear containments that must remain isolated from the biosphere for hundreds of thousands of years.”
Grand Chief Tremblay criticized a federal plan to eventually transport nuclear waste from Point Lepreau (and other Canadian nuclear generating plants) to a site in Ontario, calling it “very dangerous.”
“From Point Lepreau, to where the proposed dumping site is, it’s over 2,000 kilometres,” said Tremblay. “That’s a long haul.”
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
$500K-worth of elvers seized at Toronto airport
Fishery and border service officers seized more than 100 kilograms of unauthorized elvers at the Toronto Pearson International Airport on Wednesday.
Conservatives, NDP should be 'celebrating' EV deals: industry minister
Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne says federal opposition parties should be 'celebrating' the recently announced electric vehicle deals, despite their criticisms the Liberals refuse to make public the terms and conditions laid out in the contracts.
Banking mogul suing government after intelligence leaks leave him shut out of Canadian economy
Chinese Canadian banking mogul Shenglin Xian has launched a $300 million lawsuit against the federal government. It’s a means to find the source of intelligence leaks which Xian says has cost him his livelihood.
His SUV was stolen on Montreal's South Shore. Then he got a $156 parking ticket
A couple is frustrated after their SUV was stolen from Montreal's South Shore in March and they received a parking ticket for the same vehicle last week.
Jesus is their saviour, Trump is their candidate. Ex-president's backers say he shares faith, values
As Donald Trump increasingly infuses his campaign with Christian trappings while coasting to a third Republican presidential nomination, his support is as strong as ever among evangelicals and other conservative Christians.
Box tree moths have infested Ontario and experts say more are coming. Here's what to do to protect your garden
An invasive moth species is on the rise in Canada and, if you've planted a certain shrub, it could stand to ruin your garden.
VIA Rail service delayed for hours due to suspicious package investigation in Kingston, Ont.
VIA Rail service resumed in the Kingston, Ont. area late Saturday afternoon, after a suspicious package investigation halted train service for more than four hours over the Victoria Day long weekend.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
To plant or not to plant? Gardening tips for May long weekend
May long weekend is finally here, and with the extra time off you may be getting the itch to head out to your garden and plant. However, the old debate whether you should plant now, or wait, is still ever-present.