OPG to explore Wesleyville for potential new build

Thursday, 16 January 2025

The Ontario government said its request to Ontario Power Generation (OPG) follows expressions of interest from the Municipality of Port Hope and the Williams Treaties First Nations in the possibility of building nuclear capacity at its site at Wesleyville. "With energy demand in Ontario set to increase by 75 per cent by 2050, we are doing the early engagement and development work now that will ensure the province has options to meet that growing demand," Minister of Energy and Electrification Stephen Lecce said.

Wesleyville is one of three sites where OPG is exploring the potential for new generation with municipalities and Indigenous Nations. The 1,300 acre (over 5 square kilometres) site - where an oil-fired power station was partially built by OPG's predecessor company, Ontario Hydro, in the 1970s - has the potential to be an ideal site for new large nuclear in Ontario, OPG said. Located near existing transmission, road, and railway infrastructure, and already zoned for new electricity generation, early assessments by OPG suggest the site could host up to 10,000 MW of new nuclear generation, which could power the equivalent of 10 million homes. A new nuclear station at Wesleyville could generate important economic and associated benefits, including attracting co-industries to the site, the company said.

The Council of the Municipality of Port Hope unanimously passed a motion on 17 December endorsing continued engagement with OPG and the Ministry of Energy and Electrification on the potential for new energy generation at the site, the Government of Ontario said.

As a first step, OPG and the Province of Ontario have announced that they will provide funding so that the municipality and Indigenous Nations have the necessary resources and capacity funding to participate in a multi-year process to assess the site and help identify a suitable generation technology and complete a range of Impact Assessment activities. OPG is to provide the Williams Treaties First Nations with capacity funding and an opportunity for equity participation in any generation project, while the province is providing CAD1 million (USD695,000) for the Municipality of Port Hope to support early growth readiness, assessment of planning and infrastructure requirements, and to meet consultation requirements. The municipality could also access up to CAD300 million of further funding as part of a milestone-based process, leading toward the development of a Host Municipal Agreement, the government said.

The potential nuclear build would also allow local communities to benefit from additional co-located industry and supply chain spending. The Municipality of Port Hope would also benefit from increased municipal property taxes from the station, which according to the Conference Board of Canada are estimated to be $10.5 million annually.

"Ontario needs more affordable and reliable energy to meet soaring demand, and I am excited to work with our municipal and Indigenous leaders to explore how we meet that challenge, while creating new jobs and opportunities right here in Port Hope," said David Piccini, MPP for Northumberland-Peterborough South. "New energy generation represents an incredible opportunity for our region, and I am committed to working closely with Premier Ford and Minister Lecce to ensure our community is supported as this work advances – including immediate funding of $1 million for Port Hope."

In addition to Wesleyville, sites at Nanticoke in Haldimand County and Lambton in St Clair were also singled out last year by the Ontario government for discussions with Indigenous, community and municipal leaders. Both former coal generation sites, Nanticoke and Lambton are, like Wesleyville, already zoned for electricity generation, have proximity to transmission, and are located in regions experiencing significant growth.

According to the government, OPG will begin an impact assessment "as early as" this year to maintain the long-term optionality for the site.

"As we move ahead with site exploration, OPG will strive to listen to the priorities, concerns, and hopes of all stakeholders and rights holders involved," OPG CEO Nicolle Butcher said. "And we will only advance development with their express support.

"We commit to taking this same approach at our sites in Nanticoke and Lambton as we continue discussions with communities to determine their support for new generation opportunities there."