Ontario eyes large, new nuclear plant near Port Hope
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$0 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*No charge for 4 weeks then price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.75/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/01/2025 (330 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Ontario is taking some preliminary steps toward potentially building a new nuclear generating station near Port Hope, Ont., that could be the largest such facility in the province if plans come to fruition.
Energy Minister Stephen Lecce said Wednesday that Ontario Power Generation is exploring the possibility following positive engagement with the local municipality and First Nation community.
“We have a demand forecast of 75 per cent more power in the province, four-and-a-half cities (the size) of Toronto — we have to add to the grid,” he said at a press conference.
“This expansion of non-emitting nuclear energy will reduce emissions and massively grow our economy, and that’s a big advantage.”
Lecce previously announced in November that he had asked Ontario Power Generation to begin discussions with municipalities and First Nation communities around three OPG-owned sites where the province could potentially build new power generation such as nuclear plants.
Port Hope and the Williams Treaties First Nations are the first to say they’re willing to continue those discussions, and OPG says it is still exploring putting new power generation at its Nanticoke site in Haldimand County and Lambton in St. Clair.
Officials say OPG expects to start impact assessment activities this year for the Wesleyville site near Port Hope, and would hope to get construction and operation licences in the 2030s for operation in the 2040s.
Wesleyville was originally envisioned in the late 1970s as an oil-fired power generation station, but construction was halted due to economic pressures, Lecce said.
Officials say the site could support a nuclear plant with a capacity of 8,000 to 10,000 megawatts, which is larger than any of Ontario’s currently operating nuclear facilities.
The same officials declined to provide a cost estimate for such a project, saying it was too premature.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 15, 2025.