Ontario’s new Minister of Finance, Peter Bethlenfalvy, can create 16,000 person-years of employment in Pickering by directing Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to immediately dismantle the Pickering Nuclear Station after its operating licence expires in December 2024.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, immediate dismantling is “the preferred decommissioning strategy” for nuclear plants.In fact, dismantling is the one area of employment growth in the nuclear industry.
Immediate dismantling will permit most of the 600-acre site to be returned to the local community by 2034 for parkland, recreational facilities, dining, entertainment, housing and other employment uses. That is among the reasons why Pickering City Council unanimously supports having the plant dismantled as “expeditiously as possible” after it is shut down.
Unfortunately, OPG wants to delay dismantling until 2054 to put off its dismantling costs for 30 years despite the fact that it already has more than $7.5 billion in its decommissioning and dismantling fund.
This is not right. The people of Pickering don’t want a giant grey ghost sitting on their waterfront for another 40 years or more. It is time to set a new course for Pickering by capturing the huge community and economic benefits that can be obtained by revitalizing this massive waterfront site.
To learn more please read our short report on the many benefits of immediate dismantling: Making the Right Choice for Pickering’s Waterfront.
What you can do
Please contact Ontario’s Minister of Finance, Peter Bethlenfalvy, and your MPP and tell them that you want OPG to create 16,000 person-years of employment in Pickering by immediately dismantling the Pickering Nuclear Station after it is shut down.
Thank you!
Angela Bischoff
P.S. If you live near Pickering, please consider distributing these leaflets to your friends and neighbours to help us get the word out about the value of immediately dismantling the Pickering nuclear station after its licence expires in 2024. High school students can gain volunteer hours. Contact angela@cleanairalliance.org – thanks.