Driven by clean energy goals and surging electricity demand, Ontario has announced it wants to add a third generating station to Bruce Nuclear, which, if built, would be the first large-scale new nuclear plant construction in Canada in three decades.
Due to the accidents at the Fukushima nuclear plant in March 2011, the Japanese government is re-evaluating its commitment to nuclear energy. Japan’s apprehension about nuclear power is understandable, but closing nuclear plants or rejecting future construction would create substantial and unnecessary economic hardship. Japan must identify and fix what went wrong technologically and operationally with the Fukushima reactors. This identification must lead to major reforms drawing on lessons learned and international best practices that create a transparent and independent regulatory regime. Such reforms will help to restore public confidence and allow Japan to continue to pursue nuclear energy which will benefit not only Japan, but the United States and the rest of the world as well. Japanese withdrawal from nuclear power would have negative results for all.
Fuel loading has been completed at Bruce 6, keeping the project on track to resume operation later this year. Meanwhile, Canada's nuclear regulator has given the go-ahead for Ontario Power Generation to restart Darlington 3.
Canada's nuclear regulator has given Ontario Power Generation the go-ahead to load fuel into Darlington unit 3 after removing the first regulatory hold-point for the refurbished reactor.