The Ontario government could find itself paying hundreds of millions of dollars in penalties if, come 2009, it doesn't have enough transmission in place to accept electricity from two nuclear reactors being refurbished by Bruce Power.

As part of the $4.25 billion Bruce A restart program, reactor units 1 and 2 could be brought back into service as early as 2009 with the ability to contribute 1,500 megawatts of much-needed power to the Ontario market.

According to documents obtained by Greenpeace Canada under a freedom of information request, the Ministry of Energy expressed concern back in September 2005 -- a month before the government signed its refurbishment contract with Bruce Power -- that transmission requirements couldn't be guaranteed by the 2009 deadline.

The documents also disclose that the province would have to pay stiff penalties if it didn't have adequate transmission in place in southwestern Ontario to access power from the refurbished reactors.

"Under contract with Bruce, cost to Ontario for stranding one nuclear unit is $460 million per year," according to a ministry presentation marked "confidential."

Power authority calls for upgrades to Bruce-Toronto line: report

Hydro One has said a second line from the Bruce peninsula will be needed by 2009 to handle the additional power expected when two nuclear reactors return to service and when new wind farms start operating.

The 2009 deadline likely can't be met because the province hasn't given Hydro One permission to start work on the line. A delay in construction would mean about $1 billion in penalties to the province.

Australia, Saudi Arabia take early lead for gaffes at UN climate parley

Australia and Saudi Arabia have taken the early lead in an unofficial contest for the dubious distinction of committing the worst gaffes at a UN climate conference here.

Australia, for claiming it is as vulnerable to global warming as Africa and the Pacific, and Saudi Arabia, for demanding access to climate change relief funds, won the top two spots Thursday in the first "Fossil of the Day" awards run by an unofficial conference newsletter.