Bruce Power has launched an Expression of Interest (EOI) process to further understand nuclear technologies that could help meet growing demand for clean electricity and advance decarbonization efforts.
Ontario Minister of Energy Todd Smith visited the nuclear power generation station in Bruce County Tuesday to congratulate Bruce Power on the successful major component replacement project in Unit Six.
“The successful return-to-service of Bruce Power’s Unit 6 ahead of schedule and on-budget is a testament to the thousands of highly skilled energy workers who are helping to power our province’s growth,” Smith said. “It’s also proof that this province can deliver the major energy projects outlined in Powering Ontario’s Growth, in partnership with local Indigenous communities and municipalities.”
Meantime, Bruce Power is interested in hearing from nuclear technology suppliers interested in participating in the potential Bruce site expansion. The process will help Bruce Power and industry partners to evaluate a variety of nuclear energy technologies.
“Ontario has one of the cleanest electricity grids in the world and as we look to meet increased demand from continued electrification and economic growth in the province, nuclear power will be essential to preserving this advantage,” said Mike Rencheck, Bruce Power’s President and CEO. “Bruce Power is uniquely positioned for potential expansion, with decades of experience, a well-studied site, significant space for expansion, strong community support and an experienced workforce.”
“Canada’s nuclear industry supports 76,000 well-paying, highly skilled jobs, generating billions in GDP annually while providing a vital supply of carbon-free electricity to advance our climate targets,” Rencheck said. “As we assess potential expansion options, we will lean on the knowledge and skills of our industry, built through more than a half century of operational experience.”
The province is supporting Bruce Power during the pre-planning stages of the federally regulated Impact Assessment (IA) process, which will look at nuclear expansion options on the site. The IA process includes Indigenous and public engagement and will formally commence with the submission of an Initial Project Description to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada in the coming months.
Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson said there are exciting opportunities on the horizon.
“Bruce Power has long provided clean and reliable energy to the province of Ontario and has been a great partner to surrounding communities,” Thompson said. “The successful return of Unit 6 to the grid is a tremendous accomplishment and is a testament to Bruce Power’s commitment to excellence, and further exploration into new generation opportunities – all in the spirit of affordable, clean energy being the foundation of prosperous businesses and communities across the province.”
Bruce power promises to ensure the best interests of the ratepayer, include Indigenous community considerations, and increase socioeconomic benefits for the Clean Energy Frontier region of Bruce, Grey and Huron counties.
Bruce Power is working with Indigenous-owned Makwa Development on the IA and will look for further procurement opportunities for Indigenous companies through its Indigenous Procurement Policy and Indigenous Relations Supplier Network.
“Makwa Development is pleased to support Bruce Power on the Impact Assessment project,” said Scott Lee, President of Makwa Development Corp. “As Bruce Power looks at potential opportunities to expand its site, Indigenous perspectives and participation will be important in fostering positive change and reconciliation.”
Bruce Power is also collaborating with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to develop a feasibility study for potential future nuclear generation in Ontario, which may leverage information from the EOI.
