NB Power seeks OK for Pt Lepreau nuke refurbishment
Date: 28-Feb-02
Country: USA
"Point Lepreau is our main base load generator with fuel costs that are a fraction of any thermal power plants," said Ken Little, NB Power vice president of regulatory affairs.
The company expects the proposed project, which will extend the life of the reactor to 2032, will take more than a year to complete from April 2006 to September 2007.
In 1996, NB Power conducted an economic and technical assessment that determined the plant required a major refurbishment around 2008.
The 635-megawatt plant generates enough power to supply electricity for about 635,000 homes.
Since it began operation in 1983, Point Lepreau has provided 30 percent of the electricity used in New Brunswick.
PT LEPREAU KEY TO KYOTO ACCORD
Point Lepreau is "a source of electricity free of greenhouse gases and other air emissions that are local and global issues," NB Power's Little said.
The company said the refurbishment is a key element of its carbon dioxide emission mitigation strategy, enabling the province to meet emissions targets in the Kyoto Accord.
Many environmental scientists have determined that carbon dioxide is one of the causes of global warming.
Carbon dioxide is one of the gases produced by burning fossil fuels - coal, oil and natural gas - to generate power.
Although other options are available to meet the Kyoto targets, NB Power said the proposed Point Lepreau refurbishment is the lowest cost option that will still allow the company to meet New Brunswick's growing electricity needs.