The federal government is spending $50 million on preliminary work to expand the Bruce Power nuclear power plant, Ottawa’s first major investment in a major nuclear power plant expansion in decades.
The funding will come from the Clean Power Advance Development Program, a Canadian Natural Resources Foundation that supports preparatory work for large-scale clean power projects.
The work will include initiating Indigenous consultations, obtaining regulatory approvals and preparing the construction site.
Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, and Todd Smith, Ontario Minister of Energy, made the official announcement today.
Last July, Ontario announced its intention to add a third nuclear power plant to Bruce Power.
Bruce Power plans to expand its existing power plant on the edge of Lake Huron in Tiverton, Ont., to add 4,800 megawatts of output, enough to power 4.8 million homes. The expansion will nearly double the output of the plant, which is already one of the world’s largest nuclear power plants.
The expansion will be Canada’s first new large-scale nuclear power plant construction in 30 years.
Officials told CBC News the project is a “key priority” for Ontario as it seeks to decarbonize and expand its power grid.The electricity demand within the prefecture is ready to soar This is due to population growth and the automotive sector’s transition to electric vehicles.
Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. Smith are working closely toward a “common goal” of expanding the power grid, including expanding nuclear power, the person said.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government bet big on nuclear. Last year, the state announced plans to add more small modular reactors to the reactor already under construction at Darlington and to upgrade the Pickering plant.
In the 2023 interview, Smith told CBC News that Ontario needs to expand nuclear power generation to increase electricity production.
Ottawa shows growing nuclear tolerance
The federal government has signaled its openness to using nuclear energy to green the nation’s power grid.
The federal government announced earlier this week that it had updated its green bond program to include some nuclear projects.
Last year’s budget also made nuclear projects eligible for a new and generous clean energy tax credit, which the Canadian Nuclear Association called “clear and strong” support for nuclear power.
Last April, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canada was “very serious” about bringing back nuclear power.
“As we consider what kind of baseload energy requirements Canada will need in the coming decades, we chose Canada, especially as it continues to attract major global companies like Volkswagen. “We’re going to need more energy, partly because we have a cleaner energy mix to offer…more energy,” he said. “We will have to further develop our nuclear program.”
