Energy Minister Mike Holland, Justice Minister Andrea Anderson-Mason joined ARC Canada Program Manager Fawn Zeuchner and President and CEO Norman Sawyer at a media conference in Saint John, N.B. on Monday, December 9th, 2019. (Tamara Steele/CHSJ News)
New Brunswick providing another boost for ARC Nuclear Canada Inc. and the company’s plans to create small modular reactors.
The governments of New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Ontario recently signed a deal to work together on developing the technology that claims to generate clean and low-cost energy for both on-grid and off-grid communities.
At a media conference in Saint John on Monday, Energy Minister Mike Holland says the province can support ARC Nuclear with space for development at Point Lepreau.
“They reached Phase One of their design review. There are a number of other steps there. What we are doing is coming alongside to say in the form of the MOU with the other provinces we are there to support [them] as they reach out to the Feds,” Holland said.
Holland says Point Lepreau can accommodate at least two demonstration reactors.
ARC Nuclear Canada President and CEO Norman Sawyer made it clear this project has “significant private investment”.
“For every dollar the government’s put in, we’ve got $3 in private investment. We also now believe when the government invests into company we’ll get even more. We’re ahead of schedule right now,” Sawyer said.
Monday’s news conference saw a large number of past and present provincial politicians including former Liberal premier Shawn Graham and former cabinet ministers Victor Boudreau and Donald Arseneault.
On the current government side, joining Minister Holland were Justice Minister Andrea Anderson-Mason, Labour Minister Trevor Holder and Social Development Minister Dorothy Shephard.
Clean Air Activist Gordon Dalzell. (Tamara Steele/CHSJ News)
Clean air activist Gordon Dalzell has changed his tune when it comes to nuclear energy.
He says he’s no longer in that camp of naysayers when it comes to nuclear energy.
“I used to be, to be honest about it but, I re-thought my perspective on that because the climate is accelerating, and we are getting more and more concerned about climate change. We have to de-carbonize and get off these fossil fuels,” Dalzell said.
He sees the potential for using SMRs in other countries.
“Other jurisdictions, other countries in the world will need this type of technology in order to get off of coal for example. I really think it’s a positive development,” Dalzell said.
Dalzell says he was happy to learn more about it but, notes it’s still in the research and development phase.
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