Ottawa and Ontario yesterday announced that they are investing $3 billion to build Small Modular Reactors (SMR) at the Darlington power plant.
Billed as the first-of-its kind project in the G7, the investment is projected to create 18,000 jobs and secure province’s energy future.
Clarington had lost out to Oshawa as host of Ontario Power Generation new headquarter, after OPG decided not to build a new HQ in Clarington, but move into a refitted GM Oshawa HQ building. The move was estimated to create 2,000 jobs.
$3 Billion Investment
The province and federal government are making historic investments in this nation-building project, including a $1 billion provincial investment through the Building Ontario Fund and a $2 billion federal investment through the Canada Growth Fund, respectively. Once construction of the four SMRs is complete, they will produce 1,200 megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough to power the equivalent of 1.2 million homes.
Both Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford were present in Bowmanville, Clarington, for the announcement.
Ontario’s SMRs will create 18,000 jobs during construction with 3,700 jobs during operation, while contributing $38.5 billion to Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over 65 years, said a provincial statement.
“The Darlington New Nuclear Project will create thousands of high-paying careers and power thousands of Ontario homes with clean energy,” said Prime Minister Carney. “This is a generational investment that will build lasting security, prosperity and opportunities. We’re building big things to build Canada Strong.”
“Today’s investment to support the first SMRs in the G7 is a down payment on Ontario’s nuclear energy future,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford. “We’re protecting Ontario by supporting good-paying, long-term jobs for Ontario workers and building the energy infrastructure — including both SMRs and new, large-scale nuclear — needed to make Ontario an energy superpower.”
First SMR Works Started May
Construction on the first SMR began in May, with the SMR expected to come online in 2030. The government funding will support the construction and operation of the first SMR with an innovative model to allow for additional private sector and indigenous investment.
“As we navigate tariffs and global volatility, it’s never been more important to create a more competitive, more resilient and self-reliant province that can withstand whatever comes our way,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Ontario Minister of Finance.
The first-of-their-kind in the G7, the SMRs that make up the Darlington New Nuclear Project will inject $500 million annually into the Canadian supply chain. The construction, operation and maintenance of the four units will add $38.5 billion to Canada’s GDP over the next 65 years. The government has worked with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to ensure that 80 per cent of project spending goes to Ontario companies, including steel produced in Ontario, by Ontario steelworkers, and that construction and operations will protect workers and jobs by sustaining an estimated 3,700 highly skilled, good-paying jobs annually.
In addition to the Darlington New Nuclear Project and refurbishments at the Darlington and Pickering nuclear generating stations and Bruce Power, Ontario is exploring multiple new nuclear energy generation projects to build for the future. This includes OPG’s Wesleyville site in Port Hope, which could host up to 10,000 MW of reliable, emissions-free power and conducting pre-development work with Bruce Power to site the first large-scale nuclear build in over three decades with up to 4,800 MW of new nuclear generation.
Additional Resources
- Ontario Leads the G7 by Building First Small Modular Reactor
- Ontario Supports Continued Safe Operation of Darlington Nuclear Generating Station
- Ontario’s Affordable Energy Future: The Pressing Case for More Power
- Powering Ontario’s Growth
- Building Ontario Fund