Ontario Construction News staff writer
Pre-development has started at the site of Ontario’s first large-scale nuclear build in over three decades. Bruce Power will start community consultations and an environmental assessment for federal approval to determine the feasibility of creating up to 4,800 megawatts (MW) of new nuclear generation on its current site.
“With our plan already in place to meet demand this decade, we are starting the pre-development work to identify future generation options, including reliable, affordable and clean nuclear energy, that will power our province into the future,” said Todd Smith, minister of energy.
For the first time since 2005, Ontario’s electricity demand is rising and Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) recommended the province begin planning, siting and environmental assessment work for “long-lead assets” including nuclear power, to meet increasing electricity demand in the 2030s and beyond.
Federal approval is the first step toward building new nuclear power generation projects, which could take a decade or longer. Smith says the expansion will make the province’s electricity grid cleaner and Ontario will work with the federal government to identify and highlight opportunities to reduce inefficiencies.
A new nuclear station would also create thousands of new jobs and generate billions of dollars in economic activity across the province, according to the minister.
“Nuclear power has been the stable backbone of Ontario’s clean electricity system for decades and Bruce Power is ready to play an integral role in addressing the province’s future needs, while supporting good jobs and economic prosperity for the future,” said Mike Rencheck, president and CEO of Bruce Power. “We are starting the federal Impact Assessment process to look at new nuclear generation on our site now, to maximize the future optionality for clean electricity in the province.”
dPre-development work will evaluate the suitability of the site by examining the impacts of a new facility on the environment, the public and Indigenous communities. It will take several years to complete, involving significant public input and consultations with Indigenous communities, and is a pre-requisite for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s multi-stage licensing process for new large-scale nuclear stations.
The project is part of Ontario’s plan to prepare for electricity demand in the 2030s and 2040s that will build on Ontario’s clean electricity advantage and ensure the province has the power to maintain its position as a leader in job creation and a magnet for the industries of the future.
“This is a very exciting development for the future of electricity generation in Ontario and for our Bruce Grey community. Bruce Power has such a positive impact throughout our region, we look forward to following the progress of this pre-development work.” Said Rick Byers, Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP.