Tiverton, Ontario: Bruce Power and the Asthma Society of Canada announced the release November 25 of a co-authored report on Ontario’s improved air emissions, which outlines the role Bruce Power nuclear plays in meeting the province’s climate change targets while improving air quality for Ontario’s most vulnerable residents.
Ontario’s success in shutting down coal plants – mainly through the refurbishment of Bruce Power Units 1-4 over the past decade – is an example of how jurisdictions can meet energy demands while improving human health and quality of life, the two organizations say.
In the 1990s, when Bruce A’s four nuclear units were shut down by the former Ontario Hydro, coal-fired generation rose from 12 per cent in 1995 to 29 per cent of the province’s energy supply mix in 2000. This resulted in a high number of summer smog days and increased lung-health problems, including asthma exacerbations.
Duncan Hawthorne, Bruce Power’s President and CEO, said clean, reliable and carbon-free nuclear energy is integral to the future of Ontario’s electrical system.
“Over the past 11 years, Bruce Power has invested over $7 billion in its eight reactors to ensure the province has access to reliable and carbon-free nuclear power,” Hawthorne said. “This has allowed the province to end its dependency on coal, which has resulted in cleaner air and healthier communities for our families.”
To read Clean Air Ontario visit http://www.brucepower.com/clean-air-ontario.