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An Ontario nuclear facility is kicking off a significant refurbishment project today, as Premier Doug Ford’s government aims to rely more on nuclear energy to meet the province’s increasing electricity demands.
Four reactors at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station are being taken offline for refurbishment, which is expected to cost around $26.8 billion, with actual work beginning in January.
This project will likely keep the units out of service for about ten years and could extend the plant’s life by as much as 38 years, generating enough power for 2.2 million homes.
The plans include replacing 1,520 fuel channels, 48 boilers, and constructing a 1.5-kilometre deep-water intake.
Energy Minister Stephen Lecce claims that this initiative will create 30,500 jobs, with most of the expenses remaining in Ontario.
However, Environmental Defence has raised concerns that taking Pickering’s reactors offline for much of the next decade may increase Ontario’s dependence on natural gas for electricity generation, leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions.
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