A sign is seen outside the reactor at the Atomic Energy Canada Limited (AECL) Chalk River nuclear facility during a media tour in Chalk River, Ontario, December 19, 2007.CHRIS WATTIE/Reuters
Greenpeace Canada is applauding reports that Ontario's Liberal government will back away from plans to spend up to $10-billion to build two new nuclear reactors.
Government sources confirm the Liberals have decided the province will not need the electricity from two new nuclear plants, but they will go ahead with the refurbishment of existing reactors.
Greenpeace spokesman Shawn-Patrick Stensil says if it's true, Premier Kathleen Wynne "deserves credit for finally ending the charade that new reactors are needed and cost effective."
Stensil says he hopes the government won't take the nuclear industry's cost claims for the Darlington refurbishment at face value, and require a full public review.
Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli's office won't confirm the decision, but says "nuclear is and will remain the backbone of our electricity system."
Ontario currently gets about 50 per cent of its electricity from nuclear generation, but that could change when the government's long-term energy plan is released later this year.