Ontario announces possible Bruce Power expansion

• 9 months ago (2023-07-06)
• David Flin

North America 998 Nuclear 640

---

Todd Smith, Energy Minister of Canada’s province of Ontario, has announced that the government is starting predevelopment work for up to 4800 MW of new nuclear units at Bruce Power in 10 years.

Bruce Power’s plant on the shores of Lake Huron currently produces about 30 per cent of Ontario’s electricity.

Smith said that the demand for power in Ontario had been flat for the past 18 years, but is now climbing and the province needs an increase in both base and renewable power supply. He said that investments in electric vehicles, battery manufacturing, and green steel will increase demand for zero-carbon electricity by 21 per cent.

Ontario is asking Canada’s federal government to “reduce inefficiencies and minimise duplication when it comes to federal major project reviews to reduce emissions by getting clean energy projects built quicker.” Smith said that relates to the Impact Assessment Act, which he said could significantly slow the assessment process for this proposed nuclear expansion.