The Official Saint John, NB Project Thread

[Seely32]

Does anyone want a nuclear sandwich?

Nuclear ambitions
Report Success of 2nd reactor: long-term commitments for the energy, deep pockets to absorb the risk

Daniel McHardie
Telegraph-Journal
Published Monday February 4th, 2008
Appeared on page A1
FREDERICTON - Surrounded by energy-starved provinces and states, New Brunswick is in a prime position to sell power from a second nuclear reactor with the regional market potentially able to support two new units, according to a consultants report.

The pieces are starting to fall into place for Energy Minister Jack Keir and the Liberal government's nuclear ambitions that have until now rested on two crucial reports into the potential success of locating the world's first 1,100-megawatt ACR-1000 at Point Lepreau. The next significant component to that plan will come today when Keir releases the MZ Consulting Inc. report in Saint John that will reveal a relatively unobstructed path to success in building and exporting power from the proposed reactor.

"There are no roadblocks that say this thing can't be done, but on the contrary there is optimism coming out of these reports that it can happen," Keir said in an interview.

Recommendations from that report show there is a potential market, mainly driven by cost and environmental considerations, the Telegraph-Journal has learned.

The Department of Energy hired MZ Consulting for independent oversight of Team Candu-New Brunswick's $2.5-million feasibility study into the project that was announced on Aug. 1. The MZ Consulting review was intended to assess the future markets and pinpoint any potential financial pitfalls the Liberal government could encounter by forging ahead with a second nuclear unit.

"This would displace oil in New Brunswick, coal in Nova Scotia, oil-fired exports to P.E.I. and be for export to New England," the report said.

The only flags raised when the consultants examined the market landscape that would await any nuclear facility are the potential transmission bottlenecks in New England and the inability for long-term power purchase agreements to be signed by utilities in the region.

Before looking south of the border, about half the power generated by a single nuclear plant could be sold within the Maritime provinces.

The report is also advising that the new power from one reactor could be sent over traditional land transmission instead of turning to underwater cables.

Broadening the project to two reactors would bring on additional risk, the consultants warned.

"Taking the output of two units would require a large commitment from the export market, require large new transmission projects to proceed that would add risk, and is less likely in the shorter term," the report said.

Keir now has both the Team Candu study and its own independent review, setting the stage for a final decision in May on the province's nuclear future.

The Liberals will use these two reports to render a final decision on whether, for a second time in its history, New Brunswick will lead the world in experimenting in new nuclear technology.

Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. convinced New Brunswick to put its first Candu-6 reactor in Point Lepreau, a 635-megawatt project that was delivered late and at roughly double the original budget.

More than 20 years later the most glaring difference this time is that AECL is partnering with several other major corporations that are willing to pay the total tab and offer the province the option to buy into the reactor if it wants a piece of its future profits.

There has never been a merchant nuclear plant built in the world, leaving MZ Consulting to conclude that success will require long-term commitments for the energy and with the proponent of the project with deep enough pockets to absorb all of the risk.

The report says that Team Candu should be responsible for all of the project's "first-of-a-kind" risk. It also suggested that having NB Power act as the project proponent could be a lower cost option, but that would transfer more risk and debt to the province.

The proposed second reactor has been an integral component to the Liberal government's desire to transform New Brunswick into an energy hub for the eastern seaboard.

Keir and Graham have travelled across New England talking to politicians and power utility executives about the opportunities of selling surplus electricity into the power-starved U.S. market.

MZ Consulting studied whether there the market was as insatiable for new power as Keir and Graham have been touting. As well, the consultants examined what the business case would be, what risks would come with the project and the economic benefits for "new nuclear facilities."

The Liberal government has only seriously engaged in discussion of one nuclear power plant, although there is room for additional reactors to be located next to the existing Point Lepreau reactor. An Alberta-based company is presently considering a twin ACR-1000, generating 2,200 megawatts and costing $6.2-billion.

The New Brunswick project's business case could depend heavily on the final cost of the project, which has not been officially released, and the cost of electricity in the market.

Considering how the environment is an escalating public concern globally, the economics of the project would become even more favourable if governments start implementing carbon taxes.

Going forward with the second reactor would be yet another mega-project in southern New Brunswick, a region that is mushrooming with massive economic development initiatives. Although a final price tag has not been attached to the ACR-1000, it is expected to create 4,000 construction jobs and 500 full-time positions once it is operating.

Place those figures along side the $1.4-billion Point Lepreau refurbishment project and $1.6-billion Potash Corp. second mine development near Sussex as well as the potential for a $7-billion second oil refinery.

Team Candu-New Brunswick is comprised of Team CANDU New Brunswick draws on the experience and expertise of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Babcock and Wilcox Canada, GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy Canada Inc., Hitachi Canada Ltd and SNC-Lavalin Nuclear Limited.

[kwajo]

You know what would make a lot of people shut up about this second reactor proposal? If they coupled it with closing Coleson Cove, the single greatest point source of pollution in the region.

Hell, I'd accept a bid to build a third reactor if it meant we could decommission Coleson Cove.

[Helladog]

Originally Posted by kwajo

You know what would make a lot of people shut up about this second reactor proposal? If they coupled it with closing Coleson Cove, the single greatest point source of pollution in the region.

Hell, I'd accept a bid to build a third reactor if it meant we could decommission Coleson Cove.

And it would help them achieve their emissions goals.

[Seely32]

I see that the new car dealership on rothesay ave has most of its structural steel up. They are also blasting below saint josephs hospital today for the new apartments there.

ANy new's on strescon's new HQ.

Also hopefully sjtransit bus depot will start up soon as well.

[PostModernPrometheus]

Originally Posted by Seely32

I see that the new car dealership on rothesay ave has most of its structural steel up. They are also blasting below saint josephs hospital today for the new apartments there.

.

Seely --> Are you referring to the city road planned apartment building(s)?

[michael_d40]

Originally Posted by Seely32

ANy new's on strescon's new HQ.

I took a drive down the thruway on friday and it looks almost done. They are moving quickly on it i see

[Seely32]

Originally Posted by PostModernPrometheus

Seely --> Are you referring to the city road planned apartment building(s)?

Yes I was they had signs up today saying they were blasting.

And there was quite a bit of excavation on the site as well. They seem to be full steam ahead I wish there was a rendering.

[kwajo]

Originally Posted by Seely32

Yes I was they had signs up today saying they were blasting.

And there was quite a bit of excavation on the site as well. They seem to be full steam ahead I wish there was a rendering.

Aye, me too. Wasn't it supposed to be quite large? I know we're all hoping for a nice tall 6-7 story building here...

[random11]

Originally Posted by kwajo

Aye, me too. Wasn't it supposed to be quite large? I know we're all hoping for a nice tall 6-7 story building here...

The developers must be careful about the height. It could impede the 'sight lines' for the geriatrics and the view they have of the City Road Bakery. I'm kidding of course.

[SJTOKO]

Originally Posted by random11

The developers must be careful about the height. It could impede the 'sight lines' for the geriatrics and the view they have of the City Road Bakery. I'm kidding of course.

lol... any bets on how it's going to look? I'm going to say vinyl siding.. 4 floors with wooden stairs on the side.. with absolutely no character and a flower bed in front...

[Helladog]

Originally Posted by SJTOKO

lol... any bets on how it's going to look? I'm going to say vinyl siding.. 4 floors with wooden stairs on the side.. with absolutely no character and a flower bed in front...

Let's think positively...it's a 15 story concrete/brick mid-rise with balconies...

[Seely32]

with a mansard roof with led lights and ivy growing up the side

[PostModernPrometheus]

LMAO

optimists today, aren't we?!?!?!

I'd venture to say that if they took the time / money to buy the land & multiple buildings, then tear them down, that whatever is going there will be in the 5-7 story range...

with a flower bed in front.

[kwajo]

Positive thinking eh? How about this:

Maybe someone plans on buying Fenwick Tower from Dal and moving the structure all the way to City Road in Saint John (then plants a flower bed in front).

Sound good?

[michael_d40]

This doesnt surprise me.
I mean The New SJ gets everything now
Congrats on Level 2 Moncton lol


[REGIONAL REMAINS LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CARE CENTER]

13:26:35

THE REGIONAL HOSPITAL WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY A LEAD ROLE IN THE NEWLY DESIGNED PROVINCIAL TRAUMA SYSTEM -- IT'S CURRENTLY THE ONLY NATIONALLY CERTIFIED TRAUMA CENTER IN THE PROVINCE.
HEALTH MINISTER MIKE MURPHY SAYS THE LOCAL HOSPITAL WILL REMAIN A LEVEL ONE TRAUMA CARE CENTER WHILE THE MONCTON HOSPITAL HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A LEVEL 2 TRAUMA CENTER.
SIX REGIONAL HOSPITALS WILL BE LEVEL 3 CENTERS WHILE TEN ARE BEING DESIGNATED LEVEL 5 TRAUMA CARE CENTERS.
IN ADDITION -- COMMITTEES WILL LOOK AT UPGRADING REQUIRED BY THE HOSPITALS TO MEET THEIR DESIGNATIONS -- AND -- IMPLEMENTING A 1-800 LINE FOR TRAUMA CASES -- PREVENTION -- AND -- REGISTRY OF TRAUMA CASES

[PostModernPrometheus]

Saint John hospital ranked tops in trauma treatment
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 6, 2008 | 4:10 PM AT
CBC News

The Saint John Regional Hospital has been ranked No. 1 in New Brunswick's new trauma system, meaning it will now take the province's most seriously ill and injured patients.

Health Minister Mike Murphy released details of the government's trauma system in Fredericton on Wednesday.

Eighteen hospitals across the province have been assigned a designated trauma level. Hospitals in Sackville, Oromocto and Lameque opted to be excluded from the trauma system.

Each of the hospitals was ranked on a scale of one to five. A ranking of one indicates the hospital has the ability to address the most urgent health needs while five means the hospital is able to treat and stabilize less injured patients.

"The trauma level designation recognizes the level of service each hospital provides and will ensure patients are sent to the nearest facility able to provide the care they need," Murphy said.

The rankings were established in conjunction with the members of each of the province's regional health authorities, who assessed their own facilities based on Trauma Association of Canada guidelines.

Continue Article

The language capabilities of each institution, its geographic location, and its ability to provide the services needed to handle multi-trauma cases were factors considered in the rankings.

The designations were reviewed by a provincial trauma system committee made up of Dennis Furlong, a former provincial health minister, and senior medical officials from around the province.

Saint John Regional Hospital was the only institution to earn the level 1 designation. Moncton Hospital followed, with a level 2 ranking, meaning it will act in partnership with Saint John and take on any surplus caseload.

Saint John already has a nationally recognized trauma centre certification. Its new top designation in New Brunswick means it will become the co-ordinating centre for the provincial trauma system.

The new trauma network will include an on-call list that will tell physicians what specialists are working and where, a trauma hotline and a registry of cases.

Ten hospitals have been designated level 5, meaning they are in rural areas and more serious injuries would be transferred to another centre after stabilization. The 10 hospitals are:

Stella-Maris-de-Kent Hospital in Ste-Anne-de-Kent
Charlotte County Hospital in St. Stephen
Grand Manan Hospital
Sussex Health Centre
Hotel-Dieu of St. Joseph in Perth-Andover
Upper River Valley Hospital in Waterville
Tobique Valley Hospital in Plaster Rock
Grand Falls General Hospital
Hotel-Dieu of Saint-Quentin
Tracadie-Sheila Hospital.
No hospitals were ranked at level four and six regional hospitals were assessed at level 3. These hospitals are equipped to deal with most severe health issues but would likely transfer patients to Moncton or Saint John if they had major trauma.

The six hospitals are:

Dr. Georges L. Dumont Regional Hospital in Moncton
Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton
Edmundston Regional Hospital
Campbellton Regional Hospital
Chaleur Regional Hospital in Bathurst
Miramichi Regional Hospital.

[PostModernPrometheus]

It's good to finally see a trauma decision made.

I think the network idea is a good one; furthermore, I think that at the end of the day, the SJRH (which interestingly is the single largest hospital under one roof in atlantic canada) was the best overall option (only hospital with a helicopter landing pad, orthopedic & neurosurgical servics, NB heart centre, etc)

More importantly, I think this bodes well for the up-and-coming medical school and economic/academic spin-offs therein.

[Helladog]

Great...any news on the ER expansion?

[mylesmalley]

Originally Posted by michael_d40

This doesnt surprise me.
I mean The New SJ gets everything now
Congrats on Level 2 Moncton lol

Seriously. Does every single one of your comments have to be:

Saint John got something. This is good news.

By the way, Moncton —!

I think we can all agree that some great things have been announced in SJ over the past year. This entire forum is about talking about projects and announcements like these. But geez, don't be so negative. Just because something good happens in one town, doesn't mean that the next town over is going down the tubes.

Comments like this one just make you seem like an —.

[mylesmalley]

Also, congrats to the SJRH. I think it was the logical decision to designate the trauma centre there.