RESETTING the SWITCH on ITS Headlines for a Refit Extraction of Minerals and Gases.” Look at What the Business Case Actually Is, Dept
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
D16 Pages 33-48:Layout 5 12/13/10 11:14 AM Page 2 E D D 7.75 7.875 7.875 New Brunswick In 1983, the Point solutions that work. As for the potential of The Mactaquac Dam is Lepreau generating Brunswick. In particular, the expansion of a hydroelectric dam built SPECIAL REPORT station was the first the natural gas sector in an environmentally building a second nuclear reactor, this is an on New Brunswick’s CANDU 6 nuclear idea that is on my desk, for sure. But I think Saint John River. It reactor in the world to responsible manner will be promoted. New generates approximately achieve commercial regulations will be developed under the everyone understands that we’re going to 20 per cent of New operation. In recent Brunswick’s power. years, it’s made Petroleum Act to govern the exploration and have to reset the whole process and take a Photo courtesy NB RESETTING THE SWITCH ON ITS headlines for a refit extraction of minerals and gases.” look at what the business case actually is, Dept. of Energy. that is both years behind schedule and Of course, none of this will be easy, as and move forward from there. The key thing millions of dollars Craig Leonard told Atlantic Business we have to remember in New Brunswick is over budget. The refurbishment is Magazine in an interview not long ago. The that Lepreau, itself, is a great asset.” expected to be Apart from this, however, Leonard and completein 2012. province’s new Minister of Energy and the Photo courtesy NB Minister responsible for the Energy other energy experts in New Brunswick Dept. of Energy. Efficiency and Conservation Agency of agree that the province’s main strategic New Brunswick (which incorporates the advantage lies in the diverse mix of ENERGY operations of Efficiency NB), knows he has generating options it can deploy to erect a his work cut out for him. But, he appeared more efficient and cost-effective generation, Still, the November Throne Speech did freeze of electricity rates for New Brunswick both calm and optimistic, even about Point distribution and transmission system. At the provide some clues to Alward’s priorities. ratepayers. That work is underway. As well, Lepreau – where Atomic Canada of Energy moment, the province’s energy needs are “Your government [is committed] to an Energy Commission has been Ltd. (AECL) has been struggling with largely supplied by coal, diesel and oil-fired hide his enthusiasm. “The fact remains,” he by a 100 megawatt wind farm can reach FUTURE putting New Brunswick first with focussed established to develop a progressive, long- engineering and mechanical problems thermal stations (2,400 megawatts); says, “New Brunswick has the potential to $200-million over the 25-year life cycle of hydroelectric plants (890 megawatts); and , in the waning months of 2009, leadership,” it promised. “[We] will act on term provincial energy policy and provide related to the reactor’s calandria tubes – become the Saudi Arabia of wind. The wind the project. Furthermore, since these Point Lepreau, when it’s operating (700 former New Brunswick premier this by addressing [the province’s] energy guidance on both the future direction and the possibility of constructing a second resource map my team and I unveiled in estimates do not take into consideration megawatts). Less significant sources are Shawn Graham announced his challenges. [We] will put in place a of NB Power and New Brunswick’s nuke in the not-too-distant future. 2007 clearly showed exceptional wind eventual revenues from the trading of carbon When “Obviously, our first job is to get that natural gas and renewable forms of power, deal to sell the province’s energy utility to Hydro-Québec, legislative committee to ensure that the energy sector. The commission will potential for 4,000 megawatts of installed credits, the profits could be much higher plant back up and running,” he said. “But specifically wind. he did so with the confidence and bravado of a man who refurbishment of Point Lepreau is the release a 10-year strategy with specific wind-generating capacity along the Acadian once carbon markets are introduced into the we certainly feel a lot better about that About this last option, Yves Gagnon, a truly believed he was doing his fellow citizens an number one priority for NB Power and recommendations in 2011.” Peninsula.” economy.” today than we did a few months ago. We’re professor of mechanical engineering at the enormous favour. help bring that project to a successful close. Meanwhile, the speech declared, “your Moreover, he says, another research For this reason and others, Gagnon is confident that AECL has actually figured University of Moncton and the province’s After all, at that time, NB Power accounted for half of NB Power has been directed to establish government will foster the growth of the document he released at around the same sceptical about the benefits of nuclear out the problems and have come up with recognized authority on the subject, doesn’t New Brunswick’s accumulated $7-billion debt. The refit a mechanism to implement a three-year mineral and petroleum sectors in New time stipulated that, “The profits generated technology, which he believes is dirty and of the Point Lepreau nuclear generating station outside Saint John was foundering (years behind schedule, and millions of dollars over budget). Natural gas development was hobbled by regulatory red tape and a 15-year-old arrangement with western-Canadian-owned Enbridge that many industrial users considered monopolistic and Your perfect Winter getaway! uncompetitive. Coal and oil-fired plants needed expensive facelifts. And renewable energy technologies were not yet in the wind, the water or the sun-baked soil for those fortunate enough to own a piece of heaven on Think of it as your four and a half star playground. uncertain earth. For Grown-ups. Why not, then, make the grand play for solvency? Why not solve the energy and fiscal problems of a province teetering at the brink of bankruptcy with one bold move? Why not make the clarion of “transformational change” and the boast of economic “self-sufficiency by 2020 or bust” hardcore reality? Why not, indeed? Flash forward a year, and the future of New Brunswick’s energy options remains no less murky, though the debate has utterly reshaped the province’s political landscape. David Alward and his Progressive Conservatives swept into power last September – assigning Graham and his Liberals the dubious Saint John Refinery distinction of becoming the first one-term government in modern New Brunswick history – by tapping public outrage over the attempt (which ultimately failed) to sell out to Hydro- Québec. Now, a new premier sits in Fredericton, aware of the difficulties and yet cognizant of just how explosive the Hon. David Alward, Premier energy file can be for anyone who City of Saint John 1.877.859.7775 | CasinoNB.ca 21 Casino Drive | Moncton NB E1G 0R7 seeks to remain in public office. PLEASE PLAY RESPONSIBLY. MUST BE 19 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER. 42 | Atlantic Business Magazine | January/February 2011 44 | Atlantic Business Magazine | January/February 2011 Online extras: atlanticbusinessmagazine.com | 45 D16 Pages 33-48:Layout 5 12/13/10 11:14 AM Page 2 E D D 7.75 7.875 7.875 New Brunswick In 1983, the Point solutions that work. As for the potential of The Mactaquac Dam is Lepreau generating Brunswick. In particular, the expansion of a hydroelectric dam built SPECIAL REPORT station was the first the natural gas sector in an environmentally building a second nuclear reactor, this is an on New Brunswick’s CANDU 6 nuclear idea that is on my desk, for sure. But I think Saint John River. It reactor in the world to responsible manner will be promoted. New generates approximately achieve commercial regulations will be developed under the everyone understands that we’re going to 20 per cent of New operation. In recent Brunswick’s power. years, it’s made Petroleum Act to govern the exploration and have to reset the whole process and take a Photo courtesy NB RESETTING THE SWITCH ON ITS headlines for a refit extraction of minerals and gases.” look at what the business case actually is, Dept. of Energy. that is both years behind schedule and Of course, none of this will be easy, as and move forward from there. The key thing millions of dollars Craig Leonard told Atlantic Business we have to remember in New Brunswick is over budget. The refurbishment is Magazine in an interview not long ago. The that Lepreau, itself, is a great asset.” expected to be Apart from this, however, Leonard and completein 2012. province’s new Minister of Energy and the Photo courtesy NB Minister responsible for the Energy other energy experts in New Brunswick Dept. of Energy. Efficiency and Conservation Agency of agree that the province’s main strategic New Brunswick (which incorporates the advantage lies in the diverse mix of ENERGY operations of Efficiency NB), knows he has generating options it can deploy to erect a his work cut out for him. But, he appeared more efficient and cost-effective generation, Still, the November Throne Speech did freeze of electricity rates for New Brunswick both calm and optimistic, even about Point distribution and transmission system. At the provide some clues to Alward’s priorities. ratepayers. That work is underway. As well, Lepreau – where Atomic Canada of Energy moment, the province’s energy needs are “Your government [is committed] to an Energy Commission has been Ltd. (AECL) has been struggling with largely supplied by coal, diesel and oil-fired hide his enthusiasm.