Time is running out for one of Canada’s most polluting power plants. The Belledune generating station stops burning coal by 2030. Now two Mi’kmaw bands in New Brunswick are stepping up with a clean energy alternative.

Leaders in Pabineau and Eel River Bar are reviewing a proposal to host a small modular reactor near the Belledune site. This Indigenous owned transportable nuclear power station aligns with the national push for cleaner energy.

Powering Homes and Building an Industry

The first phase of the project supplies enough baseload power for up to 40,000 homes. Pabineau Chief Terry Richardson notes the current astronomical carbon dioxide emissions and sees a future where all First Nations communities in New Brunswick share in the wealth of the project.

Small modular reactors produce about a third of the power of a traditional nuclear reactor. Builders construct the modular components in a factory and assemble them on site.

Prodigy Clean Energy is the Canadian company driving this initiative. The company recently secured 2.75 million dollars in federal funding. The next phase of their plan involves assembling a commercial fleet of transportable nuclear power plants at the Port of Belledune. From there heavy lift ships transport the plants to coastal and remote communities worldwide.

Community Trust and Future Steps

Prodigy is actively meeting with First Nations members to build trust. Karen Narvie is a band councillor for Eel River Bar. She says the community is showing strong interest and plans to visit the Point Lepreau nuclear generating station. Band leaders also plan to travel to Ontario this fall to view Canada’s first small modular reactor under construction.

Narvie emphasizes that any approved project must contribute to community wellness. She points to the need for expanded health services, new housing, and recreational facilities like an ice rink.

Provincial and Federal Backing

Canada’s new nuclear energy strategy calls for up to 10 new large scale reactors. The strategy specifies deploying at least one reactor outside Ontario by 2035 and prioritizes Indigenous equity participation.

Mathias Trojer is the president of Prodigy Clean Energy. He says transportable plants deliver reliable power to remote areas without leaving behind legacy waste or cleanup costs. Ships simply remove the plant at the end of its life cycle.

New Brunswick Energy Minister René Legacy confirms the province remains interested in the technology. However he makes it clear that New Brunswick taxpayers will not foot the bill for any future nuclear projects that fail to prove their business case. The financial risk must not fall on the ratepayers.

For more details on how this impacts your energy grid you can read the original report from CBC News.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a small modular reactor?

A small modular reactor is a nuclear power plant that produces about a third of the power of a traditional reactor. Manufacturers build the components in a factory and assemble them at the final location.

Why is the Belledune power plant changing?

Federal regulations require the Belledune generating station to stop burning coal by 2030 to reduce carbon emissions.

Who is building these transportable nuclear plants?

Prodigy Clean Energy is partnering with Pabineau and Eel River Bar First Nations to develop and assemble these plants at the Port of Belledune.

Will New Brunswick taxpayers pay for this project?

New Brunswick Energy Minister René Legacy states that the province will only support projects where the financial risk does not fall on ratepayers.