Nuclear plant report due soon

Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008

A Saskatchewan nuclear power plant would contribute $4 billion to the economy and generate 20,000 direct jobs during its construction, the president and CEO of Bruce Power told a business crowd in Saskatoon Friday.

Duncan Hawthorne said the plant would cost $8 billion to $10 billion in total to build, and would ultimately employ 1,000 people full-time, many of those university graduates. It would also contribute about $240 million annually to the provincial economy.

""Were talking about a very, very significant impact to Saskatchewans economy.""Bruce Power, the private operator of nuclear plants in Ontario, is on track to complete its feasibility study on nuclear power in Saskatchewan by the end of this year, Hawthorne said. The company announced it would embark on the study in June.North Battleford Mayor Julian Sadlowski said his region is very interested in being the host site of a new nuclear plant.

""We will make those findings open and transparent to the public,"" he said in his speech.""Weve done a lot of our field activities now so its more of a completing the report. Were very confident we will have the report by the end of the year,"" he added later in an interview.

Hawthorne spoke at a North Saskatoon Business Association (NSBA) luncheon in the Delta Bessborough Hotel Friday, attracting an audience of more than 230 including Saskatchewan mayors, members of the provincial cabinet and heavy-hitters in the local business community.

Hawthorne said he would not reveal potential sites until the study is complete, but three or four sites have been identified as possibilities.

A nuclear plant, ideally, would be on water, near a major electrical transmission line and in a welcoming community, said Hawthorne.

In Saskatchewan, Bruce would consider building a two-unit plant generating 2,200 megawatts in total, which would substantially mitigate the provinces carbon dioxide emissions, says the company.

Should the plants construction go ahead, it could be operational by between 2016 and 2018, he said.Bruce Power is looking at building plants in Alberta and in Saskatchewan, where the economies seem to have considerable upside potential.""Its an economy with lots of optimism,"" Hawthorne said of Saskatchewan. ""We share that view.""

It is obvious to Bruce Power this province will develop further and will require more energy in the future, he said. Therefore, it is time to plan ahead.