A reliable power source crucial for Alberta
By Lethbridge Herald on January 9, 2026.
Nathan Neudorf, Lethbridge East MLA
A new year brings new possibilities and opportunities for Lethbridge, our province and our country.
Whatever those opportunities may be, electricity will be crucial.
As Alberta’s Minister of Affordability and Utilities, my goal is to ensure that we’re building a strong foundation for the future of our electricity system and ensuring that everyone in Alberta has access to reliable, affordable and sustainable power.
As electricity demands grow in our increasingly electrified world, nuclear energy has potential to meet the needs of our families, businesses and communities. That’s why our government launched a public engagement in 2025 to explore how – and if – nuclear energy might fit into our energy mix.
Some critics suggest that nuclear energy is expensive and that Alberta should rely more on wind and solar because they are cheaper to build. However, it’s worth noting that wind and solar are far less reliable.
Over the course of a year, land-based wind generation produces electricity just 30 per cent of the time, while solar only produces about 25 per cent of the time. In fact, during periods of extreme weather, wind power often drops to near-zero.
It doesn’t matter how much wind and solar is built if there’s no wind or sun to generate power.
Some argue that adding storage could extend the use of these intermittent energy sources, and in specific situations can be effective, but won’t be able to completely meet demand. California has already tried this approach and as a result, their “all-in” electricity cost is now about 71 cents/kWh CAD. In Alberta, we are roughly 24 cents/kWh. Nearly tripling electricity costs is not a great solution for affordability.
The potential to blend the best aspects of all types of generation makes a lot of sense for the reliability and affordability of electricity in our province long-term and would build on the great work already happening.
Alberta continues to see strong investment across our energy sector. In recent years, Alberta has led Canada in new renewable energy development, representing more than 85 per cent of Canada’s growth. A report released by Canada’s Energy Regulator in November showed that Alberta only trails Quebec in planned and expected renewable projects. We also lead the country in natural gas generation, with nearly 14,000 MW of installed, dispatchable baseload power.
However, we also know the energy industry is transitioning and Alberta is committed to reaching our net-zero goals by 2050.
That’s where nuclear energy is particularly attractive. It’s virtually emission-free and can produce reliable power, regardless of the weather. It would also complement our existing renewable and natural gas sources for a strong energy mix going forward.
Nuclear also has great potential—if located and designed correctly—to help our oils aands sector by providing heat, a byproduct of reactors that is necessary for advanced oil recovery. This could drastically lower emissions from our largest-emitting sector.
Many also question the safety of nuclear energy.
Canada has been safely operating nuclear energy for more than 60 years, with world-class regulators overseeing nuclear generation, safety, and storage.
We also have the benefit of being able to look at the challenges and lessons learned by other provinces and jurisdictions with established nuclear industries and learn from them.
There is also political will across party lines to support a potential nuclear energy industry, as evidenced by the recent MOU that Alberta signed with Ottawa where we committed to collaborating with the federal government to develop a nuclear generation strategy.
As the Nuclear Energy Engagement and Advisory Panel continues their engagement with Albertans in 2026, I hope all Albertans have a chance to take part in the engagement process and visit http://www.alberta.ca/nuclear-energy-engagement for information on public information sessions and updates.
20-19
I’m not 100% onboard with nuclear power even though it apparently has become much safer. There only has to be one malfunction to cause a disaster and no one can convince me that any nuclear power plant is fail safe. I suspect the main reason we are even considering the increased need for substantial extra energy is based on the demand of proposed AI facilities. The other major requirement for these AI facilities is water which we do not have a surplus. How does Neudorf propose to ensure there will be adequate water for Albertans once the AI sites are operational and there is a drought? Shutdown AI operations or ration Albertans usage or both?
excellent entry
with the likes of foolish endeavours such as digital coin mining and ai sucking out the energy lifeblood from us – as if we were not already beholden to the great energy god of our making – why not bring on the disaster waiting to happen big time with nuclear, “safer” or otherwise, to cement our love of brinkmanship. somehow, rather than limit our foolishness, we behave like idiots: as if the nature of the planet needs us to mine fake wealth and/or be effectively owned by machines.
i recall a tight short story, where we are left to ponder the foolishness of leaving a loaded gun with an idiot.
a quick and curious read:
The Weapon
by Frederic Brown (1906 – 1972)
The room was quiet in the dimness of early evening. Dr. James Graham, key
scientist of a very important project, sat in his favorite chair, thinking. It was so still
that he could hear the turning of pages in the next room as his son leafed through a
picture book.
Often Graham did his best work, his most creative thinking, under these
circumstances, sitting alone in an unlighted room in his own apartment after the
day’s regular work. But tonight his mind would not work constructively. Mostly he
thought about his mentally arrested son–his only son–in the next room. The thoughts
were loving thoughts, not the bitter anguish he had felt years ago when he had first
learned of the boy’s condition. The boy was happy; wasn’t that the main thing? And
to how many men is given a child who will always be a child, who will not grow up to
leave him? Certainly that was rationalization, but what is wrong with rationalization
when– The doorbell rang.
Graham rose and turned on lights in the almost-dark room before he went
through the hallway to the door. He was not annoyed; tonight, at this moment,
almost any interruption to his thoughts was welcome.
He opened the door. A stranger stood there; he said, “Dr. Graham? My name is
Niemand; I’d like to talk to you. May I come in a moment?”
Graham looked at him. He was a small man, nondescript, obviously harmless–
possibly a reporter or an insurance agent.
But it didn’t matter what he was. Graham found himself saying, “Of course.
Come in, Mr. Niemand.” A few minutes of conversation, he justified himself by
thinking, might divert his thoughts and clear his mind.
“Sit down,” he said, in the living room. “Care for a drink?”
Niemand said, “No, thank you.” He sat in the chair; Graham sat on the sofa.
The small man interlocked his fingers; he leaned forward. He said, “Dr. Graham,
you are the man whose scientific work is more likely than that of any other man to
end the human race’s chance for survival.”
A crackpot, Graham thought. Too late now he realized that he should have asked
the man’s business before admitting him. It would be an embarrassing interview–he
disliked being rude, yet only rudeness was effective.
“Dr. Graham, the weapon on which you are working–”
The visitor stopped and turned his head as the door that led to a bedroom
opened and a boy of fifteen came in. The boy didn’t notice Niemand; he ran to
Graham.
“Daddy, will you read to me now?” The boy of fifteen laughed the sweet
laughter of a child of four.
Graham put an arm around the boy. He looked at his visitor, wondering whether
he had known about the boy. From the lack of surprise on Niemand’s face, Graham
felt sure he had known.
“Harry”–Graham’s voice was warm with affection”Daddy’s busy. Just for a little
while. Go back to your room; I’ll come and read to you soon.”
“Chicken Little? You’ll read me Chicken Little?”
“If you wish. Now run along. Wait. Harry, this is Mr. Niemand.”
The boy smiled bashfully at the visitor. Niemand said, “Hi, Harry,” and smiled
back at him, holding out his hand. Graham, watching, was sure now that Niemand
had known: the smile and the gesture were for the boy’s mental age, not his physical
one.
2
The boy took Niemand’s hand. For a moment it seemed that he was going to
climb into Niemand’s lap, and Graham pulled him back gently. He said, “Go to your
room now, Harry.”
The boy skipped back into his bedroom, not closing the door.
Niemand’s eyes met Graham’s and he said, “I like him,” with obvious sincerity.
He added, “I hope that what you’re going to read to him will always be true.”
Graham didn’t understand. Niemand said, “Chicken Little, I mean. It’s a fine
story–but may Chicken Little always be wrong about the sky falling down.”
Graham suddenly had liked Niemand when Niemand had shown liking for the
boy. Now he remembered that he must close the interview quickly. He rose, in
dismissal.
He said, “I fear you’re wasting your time and mine, Mr. Niemand. I know all the
arguments, everything you can say I’ve heard a thousand times. Possibly there is
truth in what you believe, but it does not concern me. I’m a scientist, and only a
scientist. Yes, it is public knowledge that I am working on a weapon, a rather ultimate
one. But, for me personally, that is only a by-product of the fact that I am advancing
science. I have thought it through, and I have found that that is my only concern.”
“But, Dr. Graham, is humanity ready for an ultimate weapon?”
Graham frowned. “I have told you my point of view, Mr. Niemand.”
Niemand rose slowly from the chair. He said, “Very well, if you do not choose to
discuss it, I’ll say no more.” He passed a hand across his forehead. “I’ll leave, Dr.
Graham. I wonder, though . . . may I change my mind about the drink you offered
me?”
Graham’s irritation faded. He said, “Certainly. Will whisky and water do?”
“Admirably.”
Graham excused himself and went into the kitchen. He got the decanter of
whisky, another of water, ice cubes, and glasses.
When he returned to the living room, Niemand was justleaving the boy’s
bedroom. He heard Niemand’s “Good night, Harry,” and Harry’s happy “Night, Mr.
Niemand.”
Graham made drinks. A little later, Niemand declined a second one and started
to leave.
Niemand said, “I took the liberty of bringing a small gift to your son, doctor. I
gave it to him while you were getting the drinks for us. I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“Of course. Thank you. Good night.”
Graham closed the door; he walked through the living room into Harry’s room.
He said, “All right, Harry. Now I’ll read to–”
There was sudden sweat on his forehead, but he forced his face and his voice to
be calm as he stepped to the side of the bed. “May I see that, Harry?” When he had it
safely, his hands shook as he examined it.
He thought, only a madman would give a loaded revolver to an idiot.