In a letter to the Globe and Mail this weekend, president of the Society of Professional Engineers Dr Michael Ivanco wrote to dispute an earlier article that claimed, as the Ontario government does, wind turbines replaced nasty coal-fired power generation in Ontario.
Absolutely wrong, Dr Ivanco says.
Here is his letter (the Globe didn’t see fit to put it online).
Nuclear power slayed coal dragon
Letters to the Globe and Mail, February 21
Re: When it comes to coal, Alberta should follow Ontario’s lead (Feb. 16). Readers could be forgiven if, after reading this article, they wrongfully concluded that Ontario slayed the coal dragon by replacing that nasty fossil fuel coal with wind turbines as well as natural gas.
The reality is that the single largest reason Ontario was able to shut down its coal plants was the return to service of two Bruce Power nuclear units. And despite the costly refurbishment of these units, they still deliver electricity to the grid approximately 25 percent cheaper than the average price, despite the authors’ suggestion that the power is expensive.
Because the costs of nuclear generation are front-loaded, they will continue to supply cheap and carbon-free electricity for another two decades.
Dr Michael Ivanco
President, Society of Professional Engineers and Associates
Mississauga, Ontario
6 Comments
John Vincent
I agree with Mr. Ivanco to a point. That point being wind power is not directly responsible for shutting down coal. It must be recognised, however, that the high cost of electricty has driven away our major consumers of elelctrcity. That along with nuclear has driven off coal. Large indsustries , in Ontario, have been driven away by ,both, the emigration of producers to China, and the high cost of Ontario power encouraging producers to move there and to Mexico. The only credit due wind and solar in that regard is being the cause of the high rates.
Scott Luft
told it was in print on page of yesterday’s business section
Wind Concerns Ontario
Yes: note we said they didn’t put it online. It is in print.
Todd De Ryck
Slate, did a good article “How Ontario Won the War on Coal”, mentioned the two refurbished nuclear power plants http://www.slate.com/articles/business/the_juice/2014/08/ontario_s_war_on_coal_how_a_heavily_populated_heavy_industry_canadian_province.html
Scott Luft
note that from peak coal, in 2000, it was 6 nuclear power plants returned to service: Pickering 1 and 4 and Bruce 1-4.
Barbara
Ontario is not heavily populated and it doesn’t have much heavy industry anymore.
A place like California in North America comes under heavily populated and the U.S has also lost a lot of its heavy industry.