Why the Liberals' nuclear power plan is a pipe dream

[Oscar]

Why the Liberals' nuclear power plan is a pipe dream

[ https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/raman ... pipe-dream ]

Not only is this form of power expensive compared to the alternatives, we still haven't resolved issues around radioactive contamination and hazardous waste streams.

M.V. Ramana, Eva Schacherl Publishing date: Nov 16, 2020

On Nov. 18, Minister of Natural Resources Seamus O’Regan will announce the federal government’s action plan for small modular nuclear reactors, the nuclear industry’s latest pipe dream.

At least a dozen corporations around the world are hoping for taxpayer funding to further develop their SMR designs, all of which are still on the drawing board. Last month, the federal government handed out $20 million to Terrestrial Energy. Other expectant entities include SNC-Lavalin, which bought Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd.’s CANDU division and is developing a CANDU SMR; United Kingdom-based Moltex Energy; and Seattle-based Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation.

The Liberal government says it supports small modular reactors to help Canada mitigate climate change. The government is simply barking up the wrong tree, for several reasons: cost, cost and cost, as well as renewables, safety and radioactive waste.

MORE . . . . .