Ontario’s energy minister has revealed a plan to upgrade four reactors at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, extending their lifespan by nearly four decades at a cost of $26.8 billion.
The province and Ontario Power Generation have been planning this refurbishment for years, and today Minister Stephen Lecce confirmed that the government has given the green light to OPG’s proposal.
Before moving forward, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission still needs to approve the project, but OPG aims to kick off the refurbishment in early 2027.
The CNSC had previously allowed a short extension for units 5 to 8 at the Pickering plant until the end of 2026.
Lecce mentioned that this initiative is projected to generate over 30,000 jobs during the refurbishment phase and maintain 6,700 jobs throughout its operation while supporting economic growth and meeting Ontario’s increasing electricity demands.
Environmental Defence warns that taking Pickering’s reactors offline for much of the next decade will heighten the province’s reliance on natural gas for electricity generation, leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions.
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