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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 2016-10-19, Page 16Bruce Power congratulates Ontario Power Generation as it begins first refurbishment Bruce Power extends its congratula- tions to Ontario Power Generation (OPG) as it officially begins the first of four refurbishments at its Darlington nuclear facility last week. "OPG has meticulously planned and prepared for its refurbishment program, and we have been pleased to collaborate with them by sharing the experiences we gained during the Units 1 and 2 Restart project," said Mike Rencheck, Bruce Power's Presi- dent and CEO. "As outlined in the Ontario government's 2013 Long - Term Energy Plan, clean nuclear power will continue to be the back- bone of Ontario's electrical system for generations, and this plan begins to take shape with this first scheduled refurbishment." Bruce Power's first refurbishment project, in Unit 6, will begin in 2020, while five other units will follow. The LTEP has outlined an integrated schedule between Bruce Power and OPG that will ensure the people of Ontario have enough baseload power during the two decades of nuclear refurbishment. Renewal of Ontario's nuclear fleet will inject billions of dollars annually into Ontario's economy through direct and indirect spending on operational equipment, supplies, materials and labour income, while also creating and sustaining about 18,000 direct and indirect jobs across the province each year. "Clean nuclear provides 60 per cent of Ontario's electricity every year, while continuing to be the second -lowest cost source in the province's supply mix," Rencheck said. "A healthy and renewed nuclear industry is vital to healthy, clean air, keeping electricity costs down for families, and investing in Ontario's economy." About Bruce Power Bruce Power operates the world's largest operating nuclear generating facility and is the source of about 30 per cent of Ontario's electricity. The company's site in Tiverton, Ontario, is home to eight CANDU reactors. Formed in 2001, Bruce Power is an all - Canadian partnership among Borealis Infrastructure Trust Management (a division of the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System), Tran- sCanada, the Power Workers' Union and The Society of Energy Profession- als. A majority of Bruce Power's employees are also owners in the business. Real estate headed for `best year ever' in region Scott Dunn Owen Sound Sun Times Home sales are so hot that the Real- tors Association of Grey Bruce Owen Sound says 2016 is easily on pace to the be the "best year ever'. Home sales numbered 328 units in September, a "new record for the month, beating the previous September record set last year by 17.1 per cent;' a RAGBOS news release said Wednesday. This year to date, home sales totalled 2,415 units, which was 17.9 per cent ahead of the first nine months of 2015. "With just three months to go this year, 2016 is easily on pace to be the best year ever for home sales in the region," RAGBOS said. That would be the best year RAG- BOS recorded since it was established in a merger of the Owen Sound and District Real Estate Board and the Grey Bruce Real Estate Board in November 2000. It also noted that active listings, while increasing by 6.6 per cent last month (after four months of double- digit year -over -year declines), are still down 39.3 per cent over the same time last year. "This was the lowest level for this time of year in over a decade.' The number of months of inventory stood at 4.1 at the end of September, down from 7.9 months at the end of September 2015 "and well below" the longterm average for this time of the year, RAGBOS said. The months of inventory represents the number of months it would take to sell current inventories at the current rate of sales activity. The dollar value of all home sales in September was $85.1 million, up 31.2 per cent on ayear-over-year basis. Reached for comment, Ron Hop- per, a real estate appraiser who also operates Ron Hopper Real Estate, agreed it's been a good year. He said people shouldn't confuse the per- centage increases in sales numbers with price increases. The real estate board's report shows the average residential price in Sep- tember was $277,855, almost an eight per cent increase over the same month last year. Annual average prices would be a more accurate measure because monthly sample sizes are smaller, Hopper said. Also, there are regional differences, with higher prices commanded in Saugeen Shores, for example, than are being seen on the Bruce Penin- sula, he noted. Hopper wondered how this year would compare with the late 1980s, when real estate sales and prices were peaking. He said it stands to reason that inventories would be low when so much real estate has been sold this year. RAGBOS said sales of all types of properties numbered 401 units in September, up 19.7 per cent from the previous September. The total value of all properties sold in September was $104.4 million, an increase of 31 per cent from a year earlier. Wednesday, October 19, 2016 • Lucknow Sentinel 9 Submitted Mike Rencheck, Bruce Power President and CEO, left, and Jeff Lyash, OPG President and CEO marked the beginning of Ontario Power Generation's first Darlington refurbishment last week. Bruce Power and OPG have shared many lessons learned over the years to prepare for this exciting day, the companies said in a media release. HAVE GOTYOUR NATUMBPR? The Lucknow Sentinel's 2017 Phone B 00 K'sooN! 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