Ontario Minister of Energy congratulates staff for successful return of Unit 6 to Ontario electricity grid

Ontario’s Minister of Energy, Hon. Todd Smith, visited the Bruce Power site today to congratulate staff on the safe and successful return Unit 6 to the Ontario electricity grid.

Bruce Power is also launching an Expression of Interest (EOI) process to further understand nuclear technologies that could help meet growing demand for clean electricity and advance decarbonization efforts in Ontario.

“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.”

The EOI process will provide an opportunity for nuclear technology suppliers to engage and express their interest of participation in the potential Bruce site expansion while enabling Bruce Power and industry partners to evaluate a variety of nuclear energy technologies, which would leverage Canada’s robust nuclear supply chain, 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.

“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.”

With support from the Ontario government as outlined in its Powering Ontario’s Growth Plan, Bruce Power is in 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 also spoke at today’s event, saying 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 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.

As Bruce Power evaluates clean technology opportunities, it will engage with independent, non-profit energy R&D institute EPRI and the Nuclear Innovation Institute (NII), an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides a platform for accelerating the pace of innovation in the nuclear industry.

EPRI Senior Vice President for Energy System Resources and Chief Nuclear Officer Neil Wilmshurst said, “EPRI is pleased to join in these collaborative efforts led by Bruce Power to assess nuclear technologies’ role in supporting Canada’s commitment to decarbonization. Employing advanced nuclear technologies is among the options to help meet carbon reduction goals while producing the energy so vital to Canada’s – and the world’s – population. We look forward to bringing evaluative rigour and deep technical expertise to the assessment process.”

Together, Bruce Power, the institutes, and companies will collaborate with industry leaders to shape and drive technology application opportunities.

About Bruce Power:  Bruce Power is an electricity company based in Bruce County, Ontario. We are powered by our people. Our 4,200 employees are the foundation of our accomplishments and are proud of the role they play in safely delivering clean, reliable nuclear power to families and businesses across the province and cancer-fighting medical isotopes around the world. Bruce Power has worked hard to build strong roots in Ontario and is committed to protecting the environment and supporting the communities in which we live. Formed in 2001, Bruce Power is a Canadian-owned partnership of TC Energy, OMERS, the Power Workers’ Union and The Society of United Professionals. Learn more at www.brucepower.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.