Alberta signs on to help develop nuclear reactor technology

Source: Hannah Kost · CBC NEWS · | August 7, 2020

Province joins Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick in agreement on small modular reactors

Energy Minister Sonya Savage and Premier Jason Kenney said that the project's objectives are to provide power to remote communities, diversify the economy, create jobs and reduce emissions in Alberta by providing a clean source of energy. (Amber Bracken/The Canadian Press)

Alberta is joining three other provinces to support the advancement and deployment of nuclear energy through small modular reactors (SMRs).

Premier Jason Kenney announced Friday that his United Conservative government will sign on to an existing memorandum of understanding with Ontario, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick.

In a pre-taped statement with Energy Minister Sonya Savage, Kenney said the province hopes the nuclear technology will allow the government to provide power to remote communities, diversify the economy, create jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

"This will help Alberta stay at the forefront of the latest development in SMR technology, and ensures that we have the appropriate regulatory framework in place, should private industry decide to pursue it in the future," Kenney said.

The Canadian Nuclear Association issued a statement Friday saying Alberta's involvement in developing nuclear energy means "another key window of emission-reducing technology comes into play."

"The potential to harness clean electricity and heat to further accelerate emission reductions could be highly impactful to the Albertan and Canadian economies — and to our ability to achieve net zero by 2050," said the association's president, John Gorman.