Nuclear industry called key to Ontario power, prosperity

Ontario’s nuclear industry is an important economic engine in this province. Our nuclear power plants provide thousands of Ontarians with high-paying, stable employment; generate billions of dollars in economic activity; and power our homes and businesses with safe, clean, reliable and low-cost electricity.

Our nuclear industry is thriving thanks to the life extension programs at Bruce Power and Ontario Power Generation (OPG)’s Darlington station. These refurbishments will inject billions of dollars annually into Ontario’s economy through direct and indirect spending on operational equipment, supplies, materials and labour income. These projects are the largest cleantechnology investments in the country and work is already underway. OPG officially disconnected Darlington Unit 2 from the grid in October 2016 and Bruce Power is set to replace the major components on Bruce Units 3-8 starting in 2020, which will extend the plant’s operational horizon to 2064.

The nuclear industry directly and indirectly employs about 60,000 people in Canada. Most of these jobs are located right here in Ontario where the industry generates $2.5 billion in economic activity every year. Renewal of our nuclear fleet will create and sustain about 18,000 additional direct and indirect jobs in the communities in which the utilities operate and across the province through the companies that make up the vast nuclear supply chain. At BWXT Canada, we have operations in Cambridge, Toronto, Peterborough, Arnprior and Dundas, and provide high-value employment to over 850 skilled workers in everything from engineering and project management to skilled trades and manufacturing.

We are already feeling the real and tangible benefits of Ontario’s prosperous nuclear industry. Last year we announced that Bruce Power awarded BWXT Canada with the contract to supply eight replacement steam generators for the refurbishment of the Bruce station in a deal worth about $130 million. In August, we announced that another $48 million was added to that contract for the addition of steam drums. This year, we were also awarded a feeder supply contract from OPG valued at approximately $55 million.

But it isn’t just jobs we are talking about. Nuclear energy is fundamental to Ontario’s clean energy objectives. In fact, nuclear generates about 60 per cent of the province’s power and our use of nuclear energy helped to enable Ontario, in 2014, to become the first jurisdiction in North America to eliminate the use of coal-fired power generation.

Of all the different energy sources available — hydro, natural gas, wind, biofuel and solar — nuclear delivers the biggest advantage because it provides year-round reliable, non-greenhouse gas emitting clean power, while providing more jobs than other energy sources.

Nuclear also plays a key role in the affordability of power, which is important for the economic viability of our province. For example, Bruce Power provides 30 per cent of Ontario’s power, greenhouse gas emissions-free, at a price 30 per cent lower than the average cost to generate residential power, and Darlington Nuclear Generating Station provides 20 per cent of the province’s power, also greenhouse gas emissions-free. By investing in our nuclear fleet, Ontario will continue to benefit from low-cost energy. The cost of Bruce Power nuclear today is approximately 6.8 cents per kilowatt hour and once the refurbishments are complete, it will be in the range of 7 to 8 cents per kilowatt hour.

Not only does nuclear provide stability in price and jobs, it provides a constant, reliable source of energy that ensures people and businesses can continue to power their lives. As we look toward Ontario’s energy future, it is important that we have a diverse, dependable, low-carbon, low-cost energy mix made up of the right balance of sources that contribute to both our environmental goals and economic prosperity. The province’s Long-Term Energy Plan was released on Oct. 26 and provides a critical path forward for Ontario’s energy portfolio for decades to come.

By investing in nuclear, we are committing to powering our province year-round with clean, safe, and affordable energy that contributes to our economy through billions of dollars in economic activity and thousands of jobs right across the province. Now that’s powerful.