Ontario planning for a 21st century nuclear megaproject

Ontario is planning to cement itself as the nuclear powerhouse of North America with what could become Canada’s first 21st-century megaproject. 

Ontario announced its preliminary plan on Wednesday for the large-scale nuclear power plant near Port Hope, about 100 kilometres east of Toronto. Energy Minister Stephen Lecce described the project as “one of the largest nuclear energy plants in the world.” Once completed, it is expected to generate up to 10,000 megawatts of electricity — enough to power 10 million homes. 

Speaking at a press conference, Lecce said Ontario Power Generation has been instructed to begin planning for the new facility at Wesleyville, a site originally designated in the 1970s for an oil-fired power station. 

“This expansion of non-emitting nuclear energy will reduce emissions and massively grow our economy, and that's a big advantage,” Lecce said.

Nuclear remains a contentious battleground for the environmental movement with critics deriding its cost, construction time-scale and waste problem. Meanwhile, proponents view nuclear as a stable baseload energy source able to produce energy when renewables are not able to deliver at full capacity. 

Proponents of nuclear power, like Jeff Parnell, president of the Power Workers’ Union that represents nuclear, wind, hydro and utilities workers across Ontario, sees the project as filling a major need in Ontario’s energy picture. He says another mega-nuclear project is needed to “fill the hole” of Ontario’s looming energy shortfall. He says no fleet of small modular reactors, like the experimental miniaturized reactors that are undergoing consultation in Darlington, will meet Ontario’s 2050 energy needs. 

“If all this comes to fruition, it really solidifies us as the global nuclear leader,” he said in an interview with Canada’s National Observer. 

For Parnell, Ontario as a nuclear powerhouse “brings a lot of jobs to Ontario, not just in the generation, but in the spin off; if we have clean, reliable energy, our businesses in Ontario will flourish.”  
However, not all clean energy advocates are supportive of the move, with some voicing concerns about the plan’s financial and environmental implications.

Jack Gibbons, chair of the Ontario Clean Air Alliance, says Lecce’s proposal to build new nuclear reactors in Port Hope will cause electricity rates to “skyrocket.”

“It is time for Minister Lecce to rescind the moratorium on Great Lakes offshore wind power and use the Wesleyville [Port Hope] site to connect Lake Ontario wind power to Hydro One’s high-voltage transmission grid,” Gibbons said. “Great Lakes wind power is a cleaner, safer, quicker and lower-cost way to meet our electricity needs than high-cost, slow-to-deploy new nuclear reactors.”

A new report from the Ontario Clean Air Alliance predicts electricity generated by a new nuclear reactor would be significantly more expensive than renewable sources, costing 3.6 times more than onshore wind, three times more than solar, and 1.7 times more than offshore wind. The report also highlights Ontario's abundant renewable energy potential, noting that Great Lakes wind power alone could provide more than enough electricity to meet the province’s energy needs.

Ontario Power Generation (OPG) says it plans to start environmental impact assessments at Wesleyville this year, with hopes of starting construction by the 2030s and commencing operations in the 2040s.

According to Nicolle Butcher, president and CEO of OPG, the environmental assessment process is expected to take three to five years. She said this phase is crucial for understanding the current state of the site, evaluating the environmental impacts of the proposed development, and addressing any concerns before advancing to the next stages of the project.

The Independent Electricity System Operator reported last year that demand in Ontario is rising more rapidly than expected, with projections indicating a 75 per cent increase by 2050.

Lecce said this investment is necessary to meet the growing energy demand as the province moves toward full electrification. 

In recent years, the Ford government has also announced refurbishments to existing generating stations in Darlington and Pickering, as well as in South Bruce. The Bruce Nuclear Generating Station, already the largest in the world, announced a project expansion in 2023 of 4,800 megawatts. 

The province has received expressions of interest from the Municipality of Port Hope and the Williams Treaties First Nations, Lecce said. To support early-stage planning, the ministry has announced $1 million in initial funding for Port Hope to assess planning and infrastructure requirements.

Olena Hankivsky, mayor of Port Hope, described the proposed new nuclear site as a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity with significant potential benefits for her community.

“There are so many benefits to our community, from supporting a greener future for not just our community, but for the rest of the province in Canada,” said Hankivsky in a phone interview with Canada’s National Observer, adding the town council “unanimously support” further discussions with Ontario Power Generation (OPG).

With the funding announced by the province, Hankivsky said Port Hope will begin evaluating the feasibility of a clean energy project at the Wesleyville site.

The project is expected to take up to 15 years to complete and would require billions of dollars in investment. Lecce noted the project could generate 10,500 jobs province-wide, including 1,700 in Port Hope. Over its 95-year lifespan, according to the government, the facility is projected to contribute $235 billion to Ontario’s GDP.

In a statement to Canada’s National Observer, Williams Treaty First Nations (WTFN) said that the First Nations located closest to the development, such as The Michi Saagiig First Nations of Alderville, Curve Lake, Hiawatha and the Mississaugas of Scugog Island, have had early conversations with the provincial government and OPG. 

Discussions have focused on the province’s proposed plans for new nuclear generation at the Wesleyville site, with more “fulsome discussions” needed before conclusions are made on the nuclear site.

The First Nations believe the project will be designed to advance economic prosperity in the region. However, WTFN focus will be on the wellbeing of the community and stewardship of the land. 

“There is an enormous amount of work to be done in order to ensure that the land, water and treaty rights will be protected,” the statement said.

“This project will require extensive environmental assessment to ensure the safety and protection of our communities, land and water.”

Matteo Cimellaro and Matin Sarfraz / Canada’s National Observer / Local Journalism Initiative