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Re: [cdn-nucl-l] Ontario Power Generation's emissions
I could never understand why OPG took such drastic measures. It would make
more sense to me to take them down one at a time. Maybe all the units
were too unsafe to continue operation but I doubt it. I think I smell
grand-standing politics. If that is the case then they deserve to be
damned. Since extra pollution does translate into excess deaths for those
with severe respiratory problems, this is nothing to sneeze at. <-- sick
pun, sorry. Double pun, really!
Bill
At 09:48 AM 28/10/1999 -0400, you wrote:
>Ontario Power Generation is damned if they do, damned if they don't. Eight
>of OPG's CANDU nuclear reactors were shut down for refurbishment in the
>period from Oct 1995 to April 1998, to concentrate rehabilitation efforts on
>the remaining 12 reactors. Those efforts are bearing fruit, as seen in the
>steadily-improving OPG public report card marks, and in the increase in
>nuclear-generated electricity. In the period January 1 1999 to Aug 31
>1999, OPG's 12 operating reactors have generated 44.47 TWhe (gross),
>according to Nucleonics Week. In the same period in 1998, those same
>reactors generated 42.93 TWhe (gross); and in the same period in 1997 they
>generated 38.71 TWhe (gross). There is, of course, still progress to be
>made.
>
>Anyhow, today's Globe and Mail carries a story - Ontario Power to exceed
>pollution limit - which describes how OPG will have to buy NOx credits.
>Apparently the fossil stations will generate 50,000 tonnes of NOx this year,
>while the limit is 38,000 tonnes/annum.
>
><BEGIN QUOTE>
><SNIP>
>Environmentalists are calling on the province to force Ontario Power to
>adhere to its emission cap and stop the purchase of pollution credits.
>"In order to protect our health and to maintain credibility with our
>American neighbours, [provincial] Environment Minister Tony Clement must not
>permit Ontario Power Generation to emit more than 38,000 tonnes of nitrogen
>oxides from its smokestacks," said Sara Bjorkquist, a spokeswoman for the
>Ontario Clean Air Alliance.
><SNIP>
>The current price for the right to emit a tonne of nitrogen oxide is about
>$1,000 to $1,500 a year. Ontario Power estimates it might have to pay
>$15-million to $20-million next year for these credits.
><SNIP>
>Last year, the utility emitted 55,800 tonnes of nitrogen oxides. Mr. Fox
>said advanced pollution-control technology for fossil-fuel-fired plants
>would cost the utility up to $1-billion and add 10 per cent to operating
>costs.
>Mr. Fox said Ontario Power has spent more than $1-billion on
>air-pollution-reduction measures. The company's fossil-fuel stations are
>producing the same amount of energy as they did in the mid-1980s, put
>emitting only 40 per cent of the pollution, he said.
><END QUOTE>
>
>
>my opinions only
>
>- Morgan Brown
>
>
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~~~~~~~~oOo~~~~~~~~~
Bill Garland, Professor, Dept. of Engineering Physics, Bldg. NRB 117,
McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, CANADA L8S 4K1
Tel: (905)525-9140 x24925 Fax: (905)528-4339 Email: garlandw@mcmaster.ca
Web:http://engphys.mcmaster.ca/faculty/garland/index.html (nuclear
resource page)