Power plant's restart nuked?

Plan short-circuited

Toronto Sun - September 10, 2002
By Alan Findlay

The planned winter restart of a much-needed Pickering power generation project is in question after concerns were raised yesterday by Ontario Energy Minister John Baird.

Speaking to reporters, Baird said he's not satisfied with assurances he's received in meetings with Ontario Power Generation in the wake of several other delays to the Pickering A nuclear plant's return to service.

The plant's return is one of the lynchpins to ensuring Ontario has enough power in the coming months, according to reports from the agency overseeing Ontario's electricity supply.

"I'm not satisfied with the progress to date," Baird said. "The project has slipped on a number of occasions."

Baird said he has held a number of meetings in the past two weeks with Ontario Power Generation executives. He also mentioned a change in project leadership as an encouraging sign.

Pickering A was originally slated to be running on all cylinders by now at a cost of $800 million. According to the most recent company timelines, however, the last of the plant's generators may not be up and running until 2005 with a total bill of up to $2.2 billion.

NDP Leader Howard Hampton and Liberal MPP and party energy critic Michael Bryant both said the delay means even higher electricity rates and potential power shortages.

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