Nuclear slow to come online

Peace Tower and Parliamentary Library

A number of news sources are reporting that Ontario is starting a competitive bidding process for a new nuclear reactor. The seriousness of climate change does compel us to at least consider nuclear as an option, though it is entirely possible that the non-climatic risks involved may rule it out as a good idea.

In any case, one line in one article jumped out at me:

Construction would begin within the next decade.

Recently constructed nuclear plants have tended to face significant delays before and during construction, on account of both construction problems and legal challenges. The overall timeline shows just how challenging it will be to achieve significant emission cuts before 2020 by rejigging large emitters. Hitting 2020 levels of 25-40% below 1990 levels is vital if developed states are to get on the path to deep cuts by 2050 and stabilization in the 450 to 550 ppm range.

Author: Milan

In the spring of 2005, I graduated from the University of British Columbia with a degree in International Relations and a general focus in the area of environmental politics. In the fall of 2005, I began reading for an M.Phil in IR at Wadham College, Oxford. Outside school, I am very interested in photography, writing, and the outdoors. I am writing this blog to keep in touch with friends and family around the world, provide a more personal view of graduate student life in Oxford, and pass on some lessons I've learned here.

5 thoughts on “Nuclear slow to come online”

  1. The Parliamentary library has never looked so menacing! (nice shot!)

  2. Tough new green plan targets oil sands
    Regulations, which also apply to coal-fired power plants, would force future projects to store greenhouse-gas emissions underground

    BRIAN LAGHI

    From Monday’s Globe and Mail

    March 10, 2008 at 2:20 AM EDT

    OTTAWA — Ottawa will unveil new climate-change regulations this week that would force new oil sands projects and coal-fired electricity plants to capture and store the bulk of their greenhouse gases rather than spew them into the air.

  3. The end of an era: TVA gives up construction permit for Bellefonte nuclear plant after 47 years

    https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2021/sep/16/end-eratvgives-constructipermit-bellefonte-nu/554281/

    TVA completed the last new commercial nuclear reactor in the United States in 2016 when it began power generation at the Unit 2 reactor at the Watts Bar Nuclear Plant in Spring City, Tennessee more than 40 years after construction first began on the unit.

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