Monday, December 2, 2024
The provincial government has directed Ontario Power Generation to begin consultations to determine community support for all types of new energy generation, including nuclear, at three locations in the province’s south.
_91892.jpg "Ontario explores potential sites for new generation 6")
Ontario’s independent electricity system operator says Ontario’s electricity demand is expected to increase by 75 per cent by 2050, the equivalent of adding four and a half cities the size of Toronto, the Ontario government said. said. The increase in demand is being driven by Ontario’s rapidly growing population, new manufacturing facilities, advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence data centres, industrial electrification and the charging energy needed for electric vehicles.
“The province is on track to meet demand through 2035 with major projects already announced, including Canada’s first small modular nuclear reactor and the largest competitive energy procurement in Ontario’s history. In addition to new transmission, the state will need an additional 16,000 megawatts of electricity generation “to meet demand in 2050,” the government added.
Early community involvement is a key part of the state’s approach to new energy generation. These “early conversations” will discuss how communities can be supported, including equity participation in Indigenous communities, funding for municipal host communities to help attract community infrastructure investments and co-located industries, and additional income. and the potential benefits from the power generation project. It comes from municipal property taxes and related employment and economic development for municipalities and Indigenous communities.
The three sites owned by Ontario Power Generation (OPG), already Ontario’s largest generator, were selected by the government in consultation with First Nations, community and municipal leaders, including the Wesley Building in Port Hope; , Nanticoke, Haldimand County, and Lambton, St. Clair. . The provincial government says the sites are already zoned for power generation, are located in southern Ontario near power lines and in an area experiencing significant growth.
“As we prepare for the largest expansion of electricity generation in more than 30 years, the government is seizing an important opportunity for economic reconciliation between Indigenous communities and workers,” said Greg Rickford, Ontario Minister of Indigenous Affairs and Economic Reconciliation. “There is,” he said. “By working with Ontario Power Generation, we are ensuring that Indigenous communities are not just part of the conversation, but active participants in shaping a prosperous and sustainable energy future. ”
Ken Hartwick, OPG’s president and CEO, said the company “takes very seriously” its relationships with host communities, neighboring nations and the indigenous peoples in which it operates on their traditional territories. “I’m working on it,” he said. “We look forward to meeting with local governments and the nation to understand their perspectives and aspirations for their communities,” he said.
The government’s vision document, Ontario’s Affordable Energy Future, released in October, prioritizes clean, reliable baseload electricity from nuclear and hydropower. The state government is already supporting Bruce Power with pre-development work to build the state’s first large-scale nuclear power plant in 30 years, as well as OPG’s four small modular reactors at its Darlington site and its Pickering plant. It also supports nuclear power plant renovation projects. Energy and Electrification Minister Stephen Lecce said this is Ontario’s largest electricity generation expansion in more than 30 years. “To meet the rapidly increasing demand for energy, we are working with communities to plan for the future and generate more power that is reliable and affordable for families now and in the future. “Our plan will ensure lower utility costs and power for generations to come,” he said.
About the site
According to information from OPG, the three sites are already zoned for power generation, are located close to power lines and within a high-growth region of southern Ontario.
Wesleyville (Port Hope) is approximately 1300 acres and is adjacent to the Durham area, which is home to the Pickering and Darlington nuclear power plants.
Nanticoke (Haldimand County) is a former coal power plant, part of which is now used for solar power generation facilities. Has existing transmission connections with capacity, railways and docks
Lambton (St. Clair Township) is a former coal power plant with access to rail and deepwater docks, with the potential to reuse some of the existing site features from previous generations.
OPG says it is “in the early stages of understanding that communities are willing to explore energy development in their communities and regions.” Projects will only be considered if there is active host community and indigenous participation.
