It was great news and a wise decision to hear that a mega nuclear reactor is not on. I know that Bill Boyd said the reason was cost with which I am in total agreement by the way but is in reality not the only major concern. The whole uranium cycle from mining through to decommissioning a nuclear plant to toxic waste storage is a huge CO2 footprint we have avoided. Also it means that the North Saskatchewan River - proposed site- will not be polluted with tritium a by product of heavy water used as a coolant and moderator in CANDU Reactors. So there is lots of good news coming out of this decision.
I guess my major concern with Mr. Wall is his statement about environmental regulations being "proper" so that development is sustainable. My major concern there is will he deregulate or set new guidelines that add risk and endangers the environment simply for a few points of GDP. Is Brad Wall the protector of the Environment or the protector of the Oil and Nuclear industry? My hope is that Brad Wall is embracing the green economy.
I was surprised to see that SaskPower is still interested in "small nuclear reactors" for generating power that they claim / hope will be ready for licensing in 2015. This sounds sort of like the Lingenfelter pro nuclear stand through the crowns. For Sask Power to not now get serious about renewables is a huge mistake. By the time 2015 roles around green technology will be even a better economic clean choice and the green industry will be flourishing. Quebec and Manitoba have demonstrated already that the green industry is up and running with great success. Manitoba with thermal energy technology and Quebec with wind power technology. That is where the real economic growth will be. It would be a shame for Saskatchewan to miss out on these glorious opportunities.
I know that Uranium toxic storage sites are still on in Saskatchewan as far as the government is concerned but this like a nuclear reactor is a decision for all of Saskatchewan to make not between the Saskatchewan Party and one interested party.
