Pacific Northwest Summit (Government and Business):
- 15 University Presidents will be in attendance. See below, (2) PACIFIC NORTHWEST SUMMIT STARTS SUNDAY.
Note:
- The Idaho National Laboratory role is a nuclear one. Both Alberta and Saskatchewan have signed contracts related to nuclear collaboration with Idaho N.L..
- You will see below the programme at Idaho University whereby elected officials can attend a training course and obtain certification in North American Energy policy.
- The Pacific Northwest Summit was in July 2009. In June 2009 the Western Governors and Premiers had their usual annual meeting, after which it was announced that Brad Wall is “co-spearhead of the largest on the planet, Canada-U.S. Western Energy Corridor”. See 2009-06-15 Premiers, governors promote Canada-U.S. energy corridor. Brad Wall co-chair, “largest on the planet” . . .
- There are no laws in Saskatchewan to prevent political contributions from corporations. Brad Wall was in Alberta prior to getting elected, and after, raising money for the Saskatchewan Party.
I just wish these guys would address the fact that we’re running out of hydro-carbons, instead of investing gargantuan sums of money in nuclear reactors to hasten the depletion.
There will be INsignificant money for the development of conservation and alternatives. They are not dealing with the real issue. Which only ensures a hard landing, economically and environmentally.
I am outraged that all of this work is done between “legislators” and “business leaders” and now university presidents. Public participation is non-existent. This is not democratic government. It would not be so bad if they were at least making wise decisions.
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Hi Sandra
I found some interesting info when I was surfing last night. I looked up the Idaho National Laboratory and searched Saskatchewan on their site. The agreement between SK and INL is definitely about the North American Energy corridor, it includes water as well as energy, and it includes developing nukes for tar sands. I’m attaching documents and links for you to see.
Cathy
http://owlsandroosters.blogspot.com/2009/05/sask-on-board-with-idaho-national.html
Joe Kuchta’s blog, quite a bit of info on the agreement between SK and INL
http://www.ptac.org/links/dl/inlcanada.pdf
VERY interesting – its a few years old but it is record of a strategy meeting between an official delegation from Canada and the INL
The attached documents are power point presentations on the NA energy corridor and US strategic interests in Canada’s fossil fuels, water and nuclear resources.
/Cathy
CONTENTS
(1) U.S., ALBERTA TO STUDY NUCLEAR ROLE IN OILSANDS
(2) PACIFIC NORTHWEST SUMMIT STARTS SUNDAY
(3) REACTOR PARTNERSHIP REACHED: GOVT, U OF S TO PURSUE MEDICAL ISOTOPE PRODUCTION
(4) NEWS: OILSANDS COULD GREEN IMAGE WITH NUCLEAR
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(1) U.S., ALBERTA TO STUDY NUCLEAR ROLE IN TAR SANDS
EDMONTON (CNS) –
The Alberta Research Council and the U.S. energy department’s main nuclear laboratory in Idaho have signed an agreement to investigate ways to use electricity, heat and chemical byproducts from reactors proposed north of Edmonton for oilsands development.
“This is a marriage made in heaven,” said Bill Rogers, associate director of the Idaho laboratory.
Although no budget for the collaboration was announced, he said all his operation’s 3,800 scientists can potentially be drafted into the Alberta project.
In the U.S. view, Alberta stands out for reliability and stability as a supplier, he emphasized. Elsewhere, “we face nationalization of resources in countries that are hostile to the U.S.,” Rogers said.
(FULL TEXT, see http://sandrafinley.ca/?p=6334)
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(2) PACIFIC NORTHWEST SUMMIT STARTS SUNDAY
Media Advisory – U.S. and Canadian Legislators, Business Leaders to meet at Pacific NorthWest Economic Region Summit in Boise
BOISE, ID, July 8 /PRNewswire/
– The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) will host its 19th Annual Summit July 12-16, 2009 in Boise at the Boise Centre.
PNWER is the only forum for collaborative bi-national planning and policy development involving both the public and private sectors. Leaders from government and business will come together at the 2009 Summit to address a number of priorities for the Pacific Northwest region, including energy efficiency, water policy, invasive species, agriculture, cross-border livestock issues and innovation.
A detailed program and agenda is available at http://www.pnwer.org/2009summit/Home/tabid/1376/Default.aspx
Scheduled speakers include:
– Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter
– David Bieter, Mayor, City of Boise
– Congressman Walt Minnick
– Premier Floyd Roland, Northwest Territories
– Jack Lemley, Executive Advisor, Lemley International
– Dean Allen, CEO McKinstry
– Steve Wright, Administrator, BPA
– Steve Reynolds, CEO, Puget Sound Energy
– Doug Bloom, President, Spectra Energy Transmission West
– Hon. Gary Lunn, Minister of State for Sport and 2010 Olympics (Canadian Federal Government)
Other highlights:
– University President’s Roundtable – first time ever University Presidents from both the US and Canada will meet to discuss Innovation and collaboration in the region (15 University Presidents will be in attendance)
– Cross border Livestock Health Summit
– First Energy Horizon Legislative Institute
– 30 Legislators from throughout the Region to be certified on Energy Policy by University of Idaho, PNWER, and National Conference of State Legislators
– Northwest Food Processors Association to feature energy efficiency strategy for the Region
– Water Policy to focus on water management policies and overview of the Columbia River Treaty
– Energy – Regional roundtable on Carbon and Energy Policy; Energy Efficiency and Conservation; Meeting the Challenge with Renewable and Emerging Technologies – wind, solar, ocean and river. Admiral John Grossenbacher, Idaho National Laboratory, will chair a session led by INL on emerging regional interests in nuclear energy, western energy corridor – Opportunities and Leadership; and Plug in Hybrids
– Building Transmission for the future – Session to address regional transmission projects
About PNWER
The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) is a regional U.S.-Canadian forum dedicated to encouraging global economic competitiveness and preserving our world-class natural environment.
Its member states include: Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and the Yukon.
PNWER is recognized by both the United States and Canada as the model for regional and bi-national cooperation because of its proven success. PNWER is a respected voice and resource for the region, and provides the public and private sectors a cross-border forum for dialogue that capitalizes upon the synergies between business leaders and government who work to advance the region’s economic strength and sustainability. To learn more visit www.pnwer.org.
SOURCE Pacific Northwest Economic Region
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(3) REACTOR PARTNERSHIP REACHED: GOVT, U OF S TO PURSUE MEDICAL ISOTOPE PRODUCTION
Check out Brad Wall’s unequivocal statements about developing nuclear reactors in Saskatchewan for use in the tar sands. For example:
- 2007-05-23 Brad Wall spells out “small reactor technology” to “develop our oil sands”. (Prior to forming the Government.)
- 2008-03-28 Wall says he has big plans for nuclear power. (After winning the 2007 Election and becoming Premier.)
in Sask.
Read the following with a grain or five of salt.
By James Wood, The StarPhoenix July 9, 2009
The provincial government and the University of Saskatchewan have struck a partnership to pursue a nuclear research reactor that will produce medical isotopes in Saskatoon, Premier Brad Wall said Wednesday.
Work continues apace on a proposal that will be submitted by the end-of-the-month deadline to the federal government as it considers how Canada can secure a long-term supply of isotopes, Wall said.
A small reactor focused on nuclear material science and isotope production could cost somewhere in the range of $500 million, the premier said outside a meeting of the Saskatchewan Party cabinet at the legislature.
“We could just be a world leader in this and again it has to make sense. There are some longer-term funding issues here. We think there is a role for the federal government. We’re not rushing into anything but there is an opportunity for our province to lead and I think we should at least explore it aggressively,” Wall told reporters.
Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd. announced Wednesday its problem-plagued Chalk River reactor — supplier of one-third of the world’s medical isotopes before being shut down in May — will remain closed at least until the end of the year, causing a significant worldwide shortage of the isotopes used for cancer treatment and diagnosis.
Wall has attracted criticism for his pursuit of a nuclear research reactor before public consultations are completed on the findings of the government-appointed Uranium Development Partnership, which aims to “add value” to Saskatchewan’s world-leading supply of uranium.
He said again Wednesday the government is working against tight federal timelines, but will listen closely if it is found there is strong public opposition to a research reactor.
The research reactor working group formed by the government, the university and the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency is being co-chaired by U of- vice-president of finance and resources Richard Florizone, who chaired the UDP, and Crown Investments Corp. vice-president and longtime Sask. Party insider Iain Harry.
The UDP report said a medical isotope reactor by itself did not make economic sense for Saskatchewan, but recommended the province pursue a broader research reactor that could produce medical isotopes, the tack the province is taking.
Florizone said the university is developing the concept of an interdisciplinary centre of nuclear excellence and sees a research reactor as a potentially good fit.
There is also a strong potential research tie-in with the Canadian Light Source synchrotron located on campus, he said, noting facilities such as the one in Grenoble, France, have research reactors and synchrotrons located together.
While that is an attractive option, safety and environmental questions would need to be dealt with, said Florizone. He added a reactor would not necessarily be located on campus but would be situated somewhere in the Saskatoon area.
“We’ve had faculty that are interested in this. We have an issue of national importance. We see a reason why the U of- and the province could assist in this national issue. We see how it could help the country. We see how it could build on the university’s research strength,” he said.
There are also possible industrial research applications for a reactor and the university is investigating potential revenue sources.
Wall acknowledged the research reactor could be a money-loser for the province for some time, but said he believes there would be a long-run economic benefit for the province.
“Governments should be involved in pure research. I think that’s one of the ways we can diversify our economy away from relying on commodities,” he said.
Saskatoon is already home to a small 20-kilowatt research reactor located at the Saskatchewan Research Council facility at Innovation Place that tests water, soil, vegetation and animal tissue.
The province is embroiled in debate over Saskatchewan’s nuclear future, with the UDP recommending the development of an electricity-generating nuclear reactor and Ontario-based Bruce Power contemplating a two-reactor power plant capable of producing 2,000 megawatts.
Peter Prebble, director of energy and water policy for the Saskatchewan Environmental Society, notes a research reactor would be significantly smaller, likely around 10 megawatts.
But the history of the Chalk River plant, with its most recent shutdown stemming from a radioactive water leak, illustrates there are issues with research reactors that need to be examined thoroughly before any decision is made, he said.
A research reactor also produces radioactive waste, although on a much smaller scale than a nuclear power plant.
“The issues are the same but the scale is very different,” said Prebble.
“In the case of a power reactor, in Saskatchewan we have much better alternatives. In the case of a medical isotopes research reactor, this may be a circumstance where the benefits outweigh the risks. But there would definitely still be risks.”
© Copyright (c) The StarPhoenix
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(4) NEWS: OILSANDS COULD GREEN IMAGE WITH NUCLEAR
(I don’t think they have an option: if they are going to develop the tar sands as they intend, they have to have an energy source to replace the use of natural gas. “ . . . And that cost could include the addition of four large nu-clear power plants and around two dozen small nuclear energy facilities by 2030,under one of the scenarios . . “
Oilsands could green image with nuclear
By Dan Healing, Calgary HeraldMay 12, 2009
“Green bitumen” — an oilsands product that is acceptable to environmentally sensitive buyers — can be achieved, but it will come at a high cost, according to a study released overnight Tuesday by the Canadian Energy Research Institute (CERI).
And that cost could include the addition of four large nu-clear power plants and around two dozen small nuclear energy facilities by 2030,under one of the scenarios painted by the Calgary-based think-tank.
The study from the energy economics and policy research institute, which is sponsored by governments, the University of Calgary and private companies, says the oilsands must counter its “dirty oil” image or face losing key markets in the United States and Canada.
It notes that with California adopting a low carbon fuel standard, and the U.S. Congress pro-posing a national one, business can’t continue as usual.
“There has to be some sort of certainty,”said CERI research director David McColl. “First, you have to have compliance costs. (Companies) have to have a reasonable idea what it’s going to cost to emit five or 10 years from now.
“Once you know it’s going to cost you to emit, then you can look and ask,’Is it is cheaper for me to pay a penalty and emit or is it cheaper for me to capture my emissions and sequester it?’ It doesn’t matter if it’s federal or provincial(regulation),what matters is that industry finds the plan credible.”
According to the report, going green means replacing natural gas as a fuel source with nuclear energy or gasified coal or coke or, if natural gas or synthetic gas are still to be employed, cutting overall air emissions through carbon capture and storage.
But Simon Dyer, oilsands director of the environmental Pembina Institute, said nuclear energy is unacceptable because of the pollution it creates on the uranium mining side and with disposal of wastes.
“People who are talking about nuclear are talking about it as a way to move away from fossil fuels, not to actually increase fossil fuel production.”
As for carbon capture, he said, it’s not yet been demonstrated to be physically or economically possible in oilsands, although it is promising for coal-fired electrical plants.
McColl said the oilsands industry needs to cut 40 million to 60 million tonnes per year, something that can’t be done overnight.
Convincing the industry to clean up will require incentives, the report notes. Alberta’s current penalty of$ 15 per tonne for carbon emissions over limits would rise to$65 by 2018 under CERI’s scenario.
“If you were to impose $65 a tonne today on the oilsands industry, they would have no choice but to pay it,” saidMc-Coll. “They couldn’t build a carbon capture network overnight.”
Dyer agreed the $15 is inadequate.
Nuclear power is a cleaner way to create the electricity, hot water and steam that oilsands projects need, McColl said.
“It makes sense, in the sense of, if you want to go green you could use a zero-emission source,” he said.
But he added carbon capture will have the biggest effect on emissions levels.
A chart in the report projects that a 100,000-barrel-per-day upgrader sourcing Athabasca bitumen from a mine now emits about 65 kilograms of greenhouse gases per barrel of synthetic crude. That could drop to 15 kilograms with a combination of gasification and carbon capture and to zero kilograms with nuclear power.
Similarly, a 30,000-bpd in situ thermal project could cut its emissions from 83 kilograms per barrel to 22 with gasification and carbon capture and to zero with nuclear energy.
dhealing AT theherald.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald