April 4, 2011

Canadian nuclear association supports expansion of Darlington, Ontario power plant

The Canadian Nuclear Association announced last weekend it supports a favourable environmental assessment for Ontario Power Generation's proposal to construct additional nuclear reactors at its Darlington electrical generation station east of Toronto.

The CNA touted nuclear power as a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The organization stated if built, the Darlington nuclear power expansion project would bring highly skilled jobs to the region and could potentially employ 7,500 workers, directly and indirectly, across Ontario.

OPG initially submitted an application to build a new nuclear power plant at Darlington, capable of generating about 4,800 megawatts of power to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission in September, 2006.

A Joint Review Panel is currently holding hearings, scheduled to continue this week. The Canadian Nuclear Association gave a presentation to the panel April 1. The joint review panel is an independent body, mandated by the federal environment ministry and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, to assess the environmental effects of the Darlington nuclear expansion project and to review OPG's Application for a Licence to Prepare a Site.

Within 90 days of the end of the hearing, the panel must submit its report to the federal government and make it public. At that time the federal government will determine whether to accept the panel’s findings.

The Darlington station currently generates about 3,500 MW of power and is located not far from the Pickering nuclear plant.

DCN DIGITAL MEDIA

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