Here is an article with updated information on the Point Lepreau nuclear refurbishment in New Brunswick.
Interestingly, no journalists have been tracking AECL’s comparable problems going on at Bruce Power.
Posts Tagged ‘NB Power’
Update on AECL’s Commercial Disaster Happening in New Brunswick
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010Politicized Power Governance Costing New Brunswick Consumers
Thursday, June 24th, 2010The dominant paradigm in Canadian electricity policy for about a century was that public power, with its government-backed borrowing and tax advantages, would deliver lower cost power than regulated or competition-oriented private alternatives. As many supporters and detractors of public power have recognized, the vulnerability of this model was the risk of politicized business decision making. Adam Beck was reported to have remarked that he sought to build a “band of iron” around Ontario Hydro to protect it from politicians. In Ontario, the governance weaknesses of public power were crystallized with the passage of the Green Energy Act in 2009. In New Brunswick, a similar breakdown in governance appears to be underway, with the opposition Conservative leader Mr. Alward, representing a party currently without an electricity policy, issuing declarations on keeping obsolete generators in service.
Point Lepreau Refurbishment - No News is Not Good News
Thursday, April 15th, 2010AECL and NB Power are keeping New Brunswick consumers in the dark about progress toward restarting the crippled Point Lepreau reactor. The attached article was published in the New Brunswick Telegraph Journal newspaper April 15th, 2010.
Analysis of Hydro Quebec’s NB Power Buyout
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009The following essay, “Get past the bombast”, coauthored with Brian Lee Crowley, appeared in the New Brunswick Telegraph Journal newspaper December 5, 2009. Attached to this document are comments from December 5th replying to criticisms of the essay posted to the TJ discussion site.
essay-with-crowley-in-tj-dec-5
The following comments were posted to the same site December 6th-8th.
comments-from-tom-adams-posted-december-6th
The following essay, coauthored with Brian Lee Crowley, appeared in the Globe and Mail November 28th.
charged-with-hydro-hyperbole-gm-november-28-2009
The following link to the Globe and Mail site contains comments on the essay: G&M Comments site
The CBC presented a summary of some of my comments from one of the radio interviews I did on December 1st, and also comments, here: Summary of interview Dec. 1 re. NB Power Sale
Here are some of my posted comments and one from an anonymous commentator firing back at opponents of the sale of NB Power to Hydro Quebec responding to the CBC news article “Longtime NB Power critic plugs deal” Dec. 1, 2009. responses-to-critics-of-nb-power-sale1
Quebec’s Takeover of New Brunswick Power - Commentary and References
Friday, October 30th, 2009Here is a commentary, published in the New Brunswick Telegraph Journal newspaper, provides my analyst of the HQ/NB Power deal. PDF: deal-offers-nb-a-life-raft-commentary-on-hq-nbp-deal-october-30-2009
Here is the original from the Telegraph Journal site:
“Deal offers N.B. a life raft” by Tom Adams, for the Telegraph Journal
The attached news article from October 30th 2009 provides some of my analysis of NB Power’s challenges dating back to 1996.
“The prophet of darkness” by Brett Bundale, Telegraph-Journal
The attached news article from the Montreal Gazette provides a current summary of my views of NB Power’s problems.
“‘Crippled utility’ is sold: Ailing NB Power. Company has been ’shooting itself in the foot for years’”, by John Morrissy, Canwest
The New Brunswick government’s website for the deal is here.
My speculation on the deal prior to its release, where I failed to appreciate the potential scope for rate reductions, is here. commentary-on-a-possible-takeover-of-nb-power-by-hydro-quebec1
AECL Credibility Meltdown in New Brunswick
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009Here are links to media reports and commentary in New Brunswick discussing developments with AECL’s role in the refurbishment of the Point Lepreau reactor based on information current to late September 2009.
The story of the Lepreau reactor from 1995 onward is extremely significant from the perspective of regulatory effectiveness, nuclear economics, Candu 600 viability, and electricity politics. A few reporters and editors, such as Daniel McCarty, Neil Reynolds, Lisa Hrabluk, and Mike Holmes, deserve special mention for getting on the story early as does the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies.
In other parts of Canada concerned with nuclear matters, the lessons that just jump out from the facts of New Brunswick’s experience, are virtually unknown.
AECL competence must be addressed
AECL issues status report on the Point Lepreau Life Extension Project
AECL says N.B. reactor delay now 16 months
Refurb meltdown