Visit crednb.ca for information missing from industry and government websites about nuclear power
Dear friends and colleagues:
The Canadian government is funding private-sector nuclear companies to develop new nuclear reactors (small modular nuclear reactors – SMRs). To slow down the funding and fight for a renewable energy future, the national no-SMR action group brings together groups across Canada.
More than 100 public interest, Indigenous and civil society groups have signed on to a national statement. All express their common desire for governments to stop funding more nuclear technologies.
If you below to a group that has not yet signed on, please ask your group to endorse this statement (below) and share this message widely in your networks.
The national no-SMR action group is sharing the statement with the list of endorsing groups in our media releases and letters to government representatives. The statement demonstrates the strength of support across Canada for a renewable energy future, and our common desire to eliminate funding for new nuclear technologies.
The statement is hosted by the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA).
Visit crednb.ca for information missing from industry and government websites about nuclear power
The Higgs government formalized its support for the development of new nuclear reactors (so-called small modular nuclear reactors, SMRs) in New Brunswick. The throne speech claimed: “If New Brunswick can develop advanced SMRs right here at home and achieve just 1 per cent of the estimated Canadian market, it would mean $190 million in annual direct and indirect impacts to New Brunswick.” The numbers don’t add up.
Read the story by Susan O’Donnell in the NB Media Co-op.
ROTHESAY – The Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick (CRED-NB) is dismayed at today’s announcement by the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Development to establish New Brunswick as a hub for so-called small modular nuclear reactors. (SMRs).
The Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick (CRED-NB) advocates for our province to be a leader in Canada in the development of innovation in renewable energy and storage technologies.
Investing in new nuclear energy (SMRs) is a big step backwards, it’s old-school thinking. It’s also a bad investment not based on evidence. Research shows there is no market for SMRs in Canada.
The ARC Nuclear and Moltex Energy SMR prototypes, still early in their design phase, are in direct competition with each other for funding, with only possible success of completion sometime during the next decade.
Both are in competition with 20 other SMR prototypes in Canada, as well as with many other prototypes in other countries. The possibility that either unit in New Brunswick to be successful is very small, but the risks to our environment and the cost involved are very big.
SMRs are a poor investment for New Brunswick and Canada to be involved in when the climate emergency requires immediate action. Renewable energy from various sources can be expanded; combined with energy storage and improving efficiency they can and will meet the energy needs for New Brunswick during this decade and the next while reducing GHG emissions.
The Moltex reactor alone will cost more than $2 billion to develop. Where will that money come from? There are no private investors for this risky technology.
The Bricklin fiasco was bad but it was only money lost. CRED-NB views SMRs as worse than the Bricklin. They are dirty, dangerous distractions from reaching our climate targets.
The proposed nuclear reactors will take more than a decade to develop and will contribute nothing to lowering our GHG emissions by 2030 while at the same time they will generate new forms of toxic radioactive waste.
Today in the Legislature, the Green Party stood alone to raise concerns about SMRs. We thank them for raising these important concerns that the other parties are ignoring.
Des groupes environnementaux, trois partis d’opposition et les Premières Nations dénoncent tous l’appui d’Ottawa pour financer les futurs réacteurs nucléaires
OTTAWA, le 18 novembre 2020 – Des groupes de partout au Canada ont dénoncé ce matin la décision du gouvernement fédéral de financer la mise au point de petits réacteurs nucléaires modulaires (PRM) encore expérimentaux. Ottawa devrait plutôt investir dans les énergies renouvelables et dans l’efficacité énergétique qui sont bien plus utiles pour régler la crise climatique, disent-ils.
Ressources naturelles Canada a annoncé qu’il lancerait le 18 novembre, lors d’une conférence de l’industrie, le plan d’action du gouvernement en matière de PRM. Toutefois, le lancement a été reporté. Le plan d’action PRM est une stratégie visant à financer et à soutenir le développement de réacteurs nucléaires expérimentaux par des entreprises du secteur privé, dont la majorité est basée aux États-Unis et au Royaume-Uni.
Des douzaines d’organisations, d’un océan à l’autre, soutiennent que ces futurs réacteurs nucléaires ne sont qu’une « distraction polluante et dangereuse » qui est inefficace contre la crise climatique. Parmi ces organisations il y a Greenpeace Canada, les Amis de la Terre Canada, le Ralliement contre la pollution radioactive, Équiterre, la Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick et le Regroupement pour la surveillance du nucléaire.
Le Bloc québécois, le NPD et le Parti vert ont aussi dénoncé ce plan d’action du gouvernement sur les petits réacteurs nucléaires modulaires. En décembre 2018, une Assemblée spéciale des chefs de l’Assemblée des Premières Nations avait adopté à l’unanimité une résolution demandant « que le gouvernement du Canada cesse de financer et d’appuyer le programme des petits réacteurs nucléaires modulaires » (Résolution 62).
Dans un communiqué diffusé le 13 novembre par la députée Monique Pauzé, le Bloc Québécois a dénoncé « l’intention d’Ottawa d’investir dans l’énergie nucléaire au profit –encore– d’une filière industrielle ontarienne plutôt que de financer la transition vers l’électricité propre. Le Bloc demande l’abandon du déploiement prévu de petits réacteurs nucléaires modulaires. Le fédéral conduit le Canada vers un mur en misant sur le nucléaire comme forme d’énergie propre, ce qu’il n’est absolument pas. »
Le porte-parole du NPD en matière de ressources naturelles, Richard Cannings, a déclaré dans un communiqué : « Plusieurs Canadiens sont préoccupés des répercussions néfastes de l’énergie nucléaire. En ce qui concerne la production d’énergie, il existe d’autres voies à privilégier. Nous disposons d’options plus sûres et moins coûteuses qui seront prêtes à utiliser plus rapidement. Je pense que nous devrions appuyer le développement de solutions de stockage d’énergie pour favoriser la généralisation d’énergies renouvelables telles que le solaire et l’éolien. »
Le 10 novembre, les trois membres du caucus du Parti vert du Canada ont publié une déclaration et signé une lettre adressée au ministre O’Regan et au ministre Navdeep Bains disant que : «Les petits réacteurs nucléaires modulaires n’ont pas leur place dans un plan visant à atténuer les changements climatiques alors qu’il existe déjà des solutions plus propres et moins coûteuses. Le gouvernement fédéral doit cesser de financer l’industrie nucléaire et rediriger ses investissements vers des solutions plus intelligentes. Le nucléaire échoue à divers égards, notamment sur le plan économique. »
La professeure Susan O’Donnell de la Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick affirme que : « La construction de nouveaux réacteurs nucléaires ne devrait pas faire partie d’un plan d’action contre le réchauffement climatique. Des chercheurs émérites ont démontré qu’investir dans l’énergie renouvelable est la meilleure façon d’atteindre zéro émission et qu’ajouter l’énergie nucléaire dans l’ensemble de solutions nuit plutôt que d’améliorer. »
Selon Shawn-Patrick Stensil, directeur des programmes à Greenpeace Canada, « le gouvernement libéral jette son argent par la fenêtre. On nous répète depuis quarante ans que les hypothétiques nouvelles technologies nucléaires vont tout régler et cela ne s’est jamais produit, malgré des subventions publiques massives. »
Les réacteurs qu’on nous propose sont encore sur la planche à dessin et il faudra au moins une décennie pour les mettre au point. Si on les construit, leur électricité coûtera dix fois plus cher que l’énergie éolienne ou solaire. Le projet de petits réacteurs nucléaires modulaires le plus avancé à ce jour, aux États-Unis, a vu doubler son coût, passant de 3 milliards de dollars à plus de 6 milliards de dollars.
Le gouvernement fédéral a annoncé une première subvention pour les petits réacteurs nucléaires modulaires de 20 millions de dollars à Terrestrial Energy le 15 octobre dernier.
Les députés et les groupes environnementaux sont choqués de voir le gouvernement financer un nouveau développement de l’énergie nucléaire sans examen parlementaire, tout en essayant d’éviter l’examen et le débat publics. Ils ont qualifié de « simulacre » la consultation qui a précédé le Plan d’action des PRM. Les individus et les groupes ne pouvaient commenter le plan que s’ils souscrivaient d’abord à une déclaration de principes soutenant les technologies des petits réacteurs nucléaires modulaires.
L’énergie nucléaire et les mines d’uranium seront toujours polluantes et dangereuses. Les déchets radioactifs devront être isolés de la biosphère pour des milliers d’années, et il n’y a aucune façon connue de le faire en pratique.
OTTAWA, November 18, 2020 – Groups from across Canada called on the federal government today to halt its plans to fund experimental new small nuclear reactors (SMRs) and to take real action against climate change by investing more in renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Natural Resources Canada announced that it would be launching at an industry conference on Nov. 18 the government’s SMR Action Plan. However the launch was postponed. The SMR Action Plan is a strategy to fund and support the development of experimental nuclear reactors by private sector companies, the majority based in the US and UK.
Dozens of organizations from coast to coast have called the proposed new nuclear reactors a dirty, dangerous distraction from tackling climate change. They include Greenpeace Canada, Friends of the Earth Canada, Ralliement contre la pollution radioactive, Équiterre, the Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick, and the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility.
The Bloc Québécois, the NDP and the Green Party all oppose the government’s “small” modular nuclear reactor (SMR) plan. A Special Chiefs Assembly of the Assembly of First Nations passed a unanimous resolution in December 2018 demanding “that the Government of Canada cease funding and support of the Small Modular Nuclear Reactors program” (Resolution no. 62).
On November 13, Monique Pauze from the Bloc Québécoisstated: “The Bloc Québécois denounces the intention of Ottawa to invest in nuclear energy to the benefit, once again, of the Ontario industrial sector, instead of financing the transition towards clean electricity. The Bloc calls for the abandonment of the anticipated deployment of small modular nuclear reactors. The Federal government is leading Canada towards a wall by betting on nuclear energy that is absolutely not clean.”
NDP natural resources critic Richard Cannings said in a statement: “Many Canadians have concerns about impacts of nuclear energy. When it comes to energy generation there are better ways forward. We have options that are cheaper and safer and will be available quicker. I think we should be supporting the development of energy storage solutions to help roll out renewables like solar and wind on a larger scale instead.”
On November 10, all three Green Party of Canada caucus members issued a statement and signed a letter to Minister O’Regan and Minister Navdeep Bains saying that: “Small nuclear reactors (SMRs) have no place in any plan to mitigate climate change when cleaner and cheaper alternatives already exist. The federal government must stop funding the nuclear industry and instead redirect investments towards smarter solutions. Nuclear fails on many grounds, including on the economics.”
Prof. Susan O’Donnell from the Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick said: “Building new nuclear reactors does not belong in a climate action plan. Leading researchers have shown that investing in renewable energy is the best path to net zero and that adding nuclear energy to the mix actually hinders rather than helps.”
Shawn-Patrick Stensil, Director of Programs at Greenpeace Canada, said: “The Liberal government is throwing good money after bad. Hypothetical new nuclear power technologies have been promising to be the next big thing for the last forty years, but in spite of massive public subsidies, that prospect has never panned out.”
The proposed reactors are still on the drawing board and will take a decade or more to develop. If built, their power will cost ten times more than wind or solar energy. The most advanced SMR project to date in the US has already doubled its estimated cost – from $3B to over $6B.
The MPs and environmental groups are shocked that the government is funding new nuclear energy development with no parliamentary review, while trying to avoid public scrutiny and debate. They called the consultation process leading up to the SMR Action Plan a sham. Individuals and groups could only comment on the plan if they first signed on to a statement of principles supporting SMR technologies.
Nuclear power and uranium mining will always be dirty and dangerous. Radioactive waste will have to be kept out of the environment for many thousands of years, and there is no known way of doing that.
Both the federal and New Brunswick governments are claiming that the prototype nuclear reactors will help to tackle the climate crisis.
CRED-NB member Susan O’Donnell from the UNB RAVEN project writes two articles in the NB Media Co-op on this topic. You can read them by clicking on the headlines below.
Visit crednb.ca for information missing from industry and government websites about nuclear power
A network of groups across the country including CRED-NB sent a letter to the Prime Minister asking that any further government commitment to the development of small modular nuclear reactors must be put on hold and a process established to permit Canadians to have their say and evaluate the economic, societal and environmental cases for and against nuclear energy expansion.
The letter is accompanied by a media release from Oct. 20 explaining why the new nuclear reactors are “Dirty Dangerous Distraction”: www.ccnr.org/SMR_DDD_Media_Oct_20_2020.pdf
CRED-NB is endorsing a panel event on Nov. 19 organized by the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute. The event is free and features speakers from across the political spectrum, MPs from the NDP, Greens, Liberals and Bloc Québécois. For more info and to sign up for the event, visit this site. The question from CRED-NB is: what is the link between the civilian nuclear industry and the nuclear weapons industry? We know some of the story and would like to learn more!
CRED-NB members Sam Arnold, with the Sustainable Energy Group in Carleton County, and Susan O’Donnell, with the RAVEN project at the University of New Brunswick, published an article today in The Hill Times. Their article describes how the federal government is blocking groups and individuals opposed to new federal funding for nuclear reactors from expressing their opinions through the usual government channels. You can read their article here.
Coalition for Responsible Energy Development in New Brunswick (CRED-NB) 