Joined April 2011
- Tweets 27,929
- Following 1,078
- Followers 1,071
- Likes 39,020
3,520 Photos and videos
Dan Wrightman retweeted
Jun 10
Today I'm 44 years old.
I've still got my two front teeth, so all I want for my birthday is for you to consider subscribing to my Substack:
decouple.media/
I was 36 when I fell down the nuclear energy rabbit hole.
Over the past 8 years I've had the privilege of leading the long shot campaign to save the Pickering Nuclear Station and founding @DecoupleMedia which has served as an intellectual force multiplier for the global nuclear advocacy movement.
Along the way I've interviewed hundreds of experts, chalked up more than 5 million views and earned a dedicated listenership in some of the highest decision making bodies in industry, government and finance.
I am most proud of carving out a free speech platform within an industry with precious little room for internal debate.
I've made more than a few mistakes, changed my mind on important issues, and learned far more than I've ever taught.
While I'll continue hosting the Decouple podcast, I'm increasingly focusing on developing my ideas in written form on Substack.
If you've enjoyed following the journey, cheering on the wins, rolling your eyes at the occasional bad take, or learning something alongside me, I'd be very grateful if you'd join me there.
It's been a wild ride so far. I wouldn't change it for the world.
I'm looking forward to writing the next chapter with your support.
decouple.media/
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Dan Wrightman retweeted
Jun 4
Bruce Power Unit 3 reconnected to the grid just after 1:00 EDT today following refurbishment, ready to operate for another 30-45 years.
Its first grid connection occurred in 1977.
#CANDU 🍁 #NuclearEnergy 🇨🇦
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Dan Wrightman retweeted
Jun 8
When Ontario successfully completed the world’s largest nuclear refurbishment at Darlington ahead of schedule and under budget, critics said it couldn’t be done again.
But we are proving them wrong as we delivered a record-setting refurbishment at @Bruce_Power under budget and seven months ahead of schedule.
cp24.com/politics/queens-par…
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Jun 3
RT @ExnerPirot: BC Hydro Turns Back to Natural Gas to Help Fill Electricity Gap
energyfuturesinstitute.ca/f/…
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Dan Wrightman retweeted
Jun 2
This morning, Pete Hoekstra, @USAmbCanada, used his official account to push the 51st state idea.
He's downplayed that in the past, now he's pushing it.
If this is what he believes, perhaps it's time for the Carney government to ask him to leave.
torontosun.com/opinion/colum…
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Dan Wrightman retweeted
May 23
CNSC removed the 3rd hold point for Bruce 3 on Thursday, bringing the conclusion on its refurbishment closer.
Unit 6 had the final hold point removed only 9 days after this, so expect a newly refurbished reactor back for the full summer.
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May 17
Powering the north: Why Ontario wants to fast-track transmission lines in northern Ontario
cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/n…
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Dan Wrightman retweeted
May 16
Surprisingly for some, Quebec's reaction to Carney's electricity strategy was quite muted. There's a few reasons for that. 🧵⬇️
May 14
Learn more about Canada’s National Electricity Strategy:
pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releas…
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Dan Wrightman retweeted
May 3
Canada does have a lot of lakes. But I feel more effort could have been put into naming these two.
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Dan Wrightman retweeted
May 2
OPG Pickering Unit 5 has reached a continuous run of 1 year today, 365 days & counting!
Its first grid connection occurred in 1982.
Reliable 24/7/365 performance!
#CANDU 🍁 #NuclearEnergy 🇨🇦 Naturally.
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Apr 30
Belgium to nationlise it's nuclear plants and suspend plans to decommission nuclear operations
bbc.com/news/articles/c4g05j…
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Dan Wrightman retweeted
The Darlington SMR cost is lower than you think 🧐
Darlington is quickly becoming one of the most important real-world reference points for SMR costs. But the number most people cite, CAD 20.9 billion, is often treated as if it were an overnight capital cost in 2025.
It is not.
It is a nominal project budget that includes escalation and interest during construction. That matters, especially if the number is used in energy system models or compared directly with OCC estimates from the literature.
In the attached article, I go through my simplified reconstruction of the Darlington cost estimate based on OPG’s public filings.
After adjusting the project budget back to 2025 CAD and removing interest during construction, I estimate the four-unit project at around CAD 16.28 billion (EUR 10.36 billion), or CAD 12,922/kW (EUR 8,223/kW) using OPG’s stated unit capacity of 315 MW.
The main point is that we need to compare the right type of cost number.
If Darlington is going to be used as a benchmark for future SMR deployment, the first step is understanding what the official project budget actually includes.
Read my full article on this in the comment below 👇
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Dan Wrightman retweeted
Apr 30
For the first time in 30 years, Ontario executed with millimetre precision the first foundation for a new nuclear reactor in a generation.
A historic step forward for the Western world as we build the G7’s first Small Modular Reactor, putting 18,000 Canadians to work.
Built by Ontario workers, backed by an 80% Canadian supply chain, and delivered with unprecedented discipline.
Apr 30
Ontario lays foundation for first new nuclear reactor in decades
financialpost.com/commoditie…
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Dan Wrightman retweeted
Apr 30
From our partners @financialpost: Ontario lays foundation for first new nuclear reactor in decades financialpost.com/commoditie…
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Dan Wrightman retweeted
Apr 30
Poetry.
“There is no ribbon-cutting. No news conference.
Yet, in a matter of weeks, tens of thousands of Canadian farmers and ranchers deploy billions of dollars, put enormous personal and financial capital at risk, and set in motion the production of food that Canadians and much of the world depend on.”
Apr 30
Canada’s quietest $20-billion megaproject happens every spring in agriculture calgaryherald.com/opinion/ca…
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Dan Wrightman retweeted
Apr 30
“If the weather turns, markets shift or disease strikes, there is no pause button. No redo. Farmers live with the outcome for a full year.
From a risk perspective, this is extraordinary. Every spring, family farms across the country make the largest co-ordinated, high-risk private investment in the Canadian economy, and they do so independently, quietly and with remarkable competence.”
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General Motors says it will spend $691 million on its St. Catharines Propulsion Plant to support production of its latest V-8 engines for full-sized trucks and sports utility vehicles.
chch.com/chch-news/general-m…
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Dan Wrightman retweeted
Apr 29
👀 Department of National Defence is making an initial $40-million investment for 2026–2027 to assess the potential of a Canadian‑controlled microreactor that could provide heat and electricity to remote and northern DND and Canadian Armed Forces facilities and operations. 👏
Apr 29
Today, we announced the development of a transformative Nuclear Energy Strategy for Canada.
Learn more: ow.ly/gXvY50YRMLT
#NuclearEnergy
ALT Darlington Nuclear Generating Station with text overlay “Nuclear Energy Strategy for Canada”
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Dan Wrightman retweeted
“The project faced unique revenue and structural risks, particularly around securing and retaining customers. Given these risks, traditional private lenders alone were unwilling to provide the required financing.”
— Ehren Cory, CEO @cib_en
.@CIB_en loaned $206M to Nova Scotia wind farm run by Liberal insiders because no bank would touch it, says CEO: "Private lenders alone were unwilling."
blacklocks.ca/venture-too-ri… @ChronicleHerald #nspoli
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Dan Wrightman retweeted
.@CIB_en loaned $206M to Nova Scotia wind farm run by Liberal insiders because no bank would touch it, says CEO: "Private lenders alone were unwilling."
blacklocks.ca/venture-too-ri… @ChronicleHerald #nspoli
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