The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-10-19, Page 44 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, October 19, 2005 =CNA Editorial Opinion TIMES ADVOCATE PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER 07511 We acknowledge the Financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Publications Assistance Program (PAP), toward our mailing costs. Jim Beckett Publisher and Editor Deb Lord Production Manager &Published by Metroland Printing, rt Publishing & Distributing Ltd. Metroland 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850 Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6 • (519) 235-1331 EDITORIAL A real solution? Als the province strives to shut down its pol- ution-belching coal-fired generating sta- ions while at the same time trying to ensure its citizens have enough electricity to meet demands, the controversy surrounding nuclear power has again reared its head. On the one hand, nuclear creates a massive amount of much-needed electricity; on the other, critics point to the environmental concerns, cost overruns and the province's sketchy history trying to get nuclear units back online. On Monday, the province announced it had struck a deal with Bruce Power to restart two nuclear power units at the Bruce Nuclear Station at a cost of about $4.25 billion. The reactors, shut down since the mid- 1990s, are expected to be back online starting in 2009 and will provide 1,500 megawatts of power to the provincial electricity grid until 2036. Bruce Power, a private consortium, will pay the cost of refurbishing the two Bruce units and getting them back online, as well as refurbishing another unit and extend- ing the operating life of another once the first two are back online This, according to a press release from the province, "will ensure that much of the risks of cost overruns related to the refurbishment and restart of the units are transferred away from Ontario ratepayers." In exchange, Bruce Power will receive 6.3 cents per kilo- watt hour for the electricity the units produce. In the past, nuclear power unit refurbishments have not gone well — restoring a unit at the Pickering station was years late and millions of dollars over budget, lead- ing to the firing of three Ontario Power Generator exec- utives. There were also huge cost overruns with getting two other Bruce units online in 2003. In August, plans to restart two other mothballed reac- tors at Pickering were scrapped because it was deemed the project wasn't economically viable. There are those who won't like the province's new commitment to nuclear energy, but it should come as no surprise the province is taking this route — after promising to mothball the province's coal-fired stations, increasing the province's reliance on nuclear was a fore- gone conclusion. Getting rid of the coal-fired stations is a positive move, although it also takes a lot of electricity away from the grid. But the air, and our lungs, will ben- efit. Nuclear energy doesn't pollute the air, although there are understandably concerns among environmentalists about storing nuclear waste and what that does to future generations. But that's the trade-off you get with nuclear — it would be nice to power the province on wind energy, but that simply isn't possible. Dalton McGuinty still has much work to do. Over the next 15 years, the province needs to refurbish, rebuild or replace 25,000 megawatts of supply. It can't all come from nuclear — that's simply not affordable or feasible. The province (and the feds) needs to continue investing into alternative energies such as wind and solar. And we need to hope the Bruce project goes better than the Pickering debacle. I'm a redneck woman! I don't know about any of ya' all out there but I love living the small town life. Not only that I'm proud of it, yes proud of what's that word...being a 'hick'. I've lived in Nairn for over 12 years and I think that's one of the best moves my parents have ever made, literally. Sure it's only about 350 people and the 'cool thing' to do back in the day was sit with your friends at the park doing noth- ing or sitting at the coffee shop doing well, nothing but it wasn't so bad. An e-mail circulated a little while ago titled "You might be from a small town if..." and it definitely explains small town life perfectly. Among some of the points listed were, you might be from a small town if anyone you want can be found at either the local gas station, coffee shop or town pub, your teachers remember when they taught your parents, you don't give directions by street names, but by references (turn right at Billy's house then a left at Bobbie Sue's, it's three houses down right beside the corn field (yeah, which one.) And how about this, you always went to a party in a barn or field or went to the stag and doe that everyone comes to. There's many different aspects of the small town life that are appealing. I love the fact that everyone (most of the time) is so friendly, everyone waves or nods, it doesn't matter if you know them or not. I also find customer service a lot better in the smaller towns. You're not just a number for instance. 'The hurry up and get out of the store act is not present.' I'm not saying this is in all cases but I can't count on my fingers how many times I've had a store employee be rude to me in the city. That's okay though, I'm sure they're just upset they have to go home to their house in the city, surrounded by the sound of traffic and bright street lights. I'd go crazy if there were no stars to look at in the evening and when a car goes by my house, my whole family practically jumps up and runs to the window. A vehicle motoring down our street is not a common sight and in fact neither are street lights, there's not too many on my gravel road. Actually Nairn just had a few street lights put up on the 'main street' and I swear it was the talk of the whole town. I guess what I'm trying to say is I love the coun- try, everything about it. I can even handle the smell of manure, I'd take that over smelly factory stench any day. In fact the only thing I don't like about the coun- try is well, most of the country music, but don't get me started on that... NINA VAN LIESHOUT KICK THIS AROUND About the Times -Advocate Address & Office Hours Times -Advocate, 424 Main Street South, P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ontario NOM 1S6. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Closed on Holidays. Contact Us By Phone or Fax Classified ad & subscription sales ....(519) 235-1331 24-hour automated attendant (519) 235-1336 Fax number for all departments (519) 235-0766 Subscription Rates One year rate for addresses in Canada: $38+GST Two year rate for addresses in Canada: $70+GST One year rate for addresses outside Canada: $130 Call (519) 235-1331 to order a subscription. Classified Rates Word ads: $11.00 for 20 words, 20¢ for each addition- al word+ GST. Notices (births, deaths, announcements, coming events, memoriams, cards of thanks): $15.00 + GST for up to 50 words, All ads must be pre -paid. The classified ad deadline is Monday at 10 a.m. Display Advertising To place a display ad, (519) 235-1331 weekdays 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. or evenings (519) 235-1336 (leave mes- sage) or toll-free at 1-888-270-1602. Deadline: Fri. 4 m. -mail Us Web site: www.southhuron.com TA e-mail addresses consist of the person's first initial and last name followed by @southhuron.com. For example, Jim Beckett's e-mail address is <jbeck- ett@southhuron.com> Our general e-mail address is ads@southhuron.com. The Times -Advocate Team Publisher/Editor Jim Beckett ext. 109 ADVERTISING Deborah Schillemore ext. 112 REPORTERS Scott Nixon ext. 105 Pat Bolen ext. 113 Nina Van Lieshout ext. 107 CUSTOMER SERVICE Sue Rollings ext. 101 Kim Hern ext. 102 COMPOSITION DEPARTMENT Manager Deb Lord ext. 103/114 Heather Bilcke ext. 103 Kelly Gackstetter ext. 103 ACCOUNTING STAFF Anita McDonald ext. 104 Ruth Slaght ext. 106 Christina Scott ext. 108 MargPertschy ext. 111 Heather Clarke