Pickering a boon to Ontario

Iread with interest the Consumer Policy Institute op-ed Pickering picks pocketbooks by Brady Yauch that appeared March 28 in the Financial Post. Yauch criticizes the province’s proposed continued operations of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station.

Today, Ontario relies on nuclear power to provide 60 per cent of its electricity generation. The plants at Darlington, Pickering and Bruce have excellent performance and safety records. Nuclear is Ontario’s best option for cost-effective, greenhouse gas emissions-free, reliable baseload generation and has been a critical resource in ensuring clean air for Ontarians. In addition, nuclear power provides a valuable boost to the Ontario economy.

OPG is committed to ensuring public safety and makes every decision with this commitment in the forefront. Our nuclear operations are independently evaluated by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC). Pickering operations received the highest possible rating of “Fully Satisfactory” from the CNSC in 2016. This demonstrates Pickering’s high level of station operating performance.

The six operating nuclear units at Pickering meet about 14 per cent of Ontario’s annual electricity demand. Pickering generation comes at a cost lower than almost all other sources of energy. Continued operations will save Ontario customers $600 million and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17 million tonnes over the period from 2020 to 2024. Energy Board hearing process. However, it is important to point out that the case for continued operations at Pickering is based on comparing the nuclear plant to the realistic alternative of natural gas fired generation rather than an arguably higher performing nuclear plant elsewhere.

Yauch cites a report submitted to the OEB hearing by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO)