The election is October 21, and candidates are making the rounds now. Here’s a good question to ask when they knock on your door:
If elected, will you support a public enquiry on the continued operation of the Point Lepreau Nuclear Station to generate electricity in New Brunswick?
Background:
The Point Lepreau Nuclear Station has frequent and long periods of many months of down time for repairs and maintenance even after the expensive refurbishment which lasted from 2008 to November 2012.
Lepreau is the largest contributor to NB Power’s 5 billion dollar debt (Lepreau’s share is about 4 billion dollars) and the main reason the utility loses money almost every year. To cover these costs, NB Power is planning to increase our electricity rates by 20% in the next 2 years.
The people of New Brunswick must be given an opportunity to decide how our electricity will be generated. This election, let’s talk to potential candidates about holding a public inquiry to decide if New Brunswick should take the big leap forward with renewable energy or stick with nuclear generated electricity and suffer continued huge costs, many problems, unreliability and more radioactive nuclear waste.