Ep. 530: Small Modular Reactors: Not Ready for Prime Time
Guest: Allison Macfarlane, University of BC
The demand for electricity is rising and it’s rising faster than new supply can be created.
In British Columbia, the Site C dam is about to come online and when it does, it will boost the available power in the province by 4600 gigawatts.
In 2023, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation warned that BC is in for an energy shortfall by as early as 2026. The province can’t afford the price tag nor the time required to build new massive hydro electric projects and it is seeking proposals for renewable energy.
During the provincial election, the topic of nuclear power was proposed, in particular small modular reactors (SMRs), but it is not on the table – BC’s Clean Energy Act bans it. And the question remains: are SMRs the answer? Is nuclear in any form appropriate for BC?
We invited Allison Macfarlane, Professor and Director of the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs at UBC and a recognized expert on SMRs. to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the reality of small modular reactors.
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Check out their profile on our partnered program, Careers That Matter!
