​Community support for Bruce Power remains strong

Independent polling shows that support for Bruce Power continues to grow, with 87 per cent of residents in the Clean Energy Frontier region of Bruce, Grey and Huron counties, who are familiar with Bruce Power, having a positive impression.

During recent independent telephone polling conducted across the region, Ipsos found that almost all residents (96 per cent) who are familiar with the company, regard Bruce Power as a good citizen, while 95 per cent agree the organization positively engages with the community and 96 per cent have confidence that the Bruce facility operates safely.

New to the survey this year, was a question on the Ontario government’s plan to explore nuclear expansion on the Bruce Power site.

Eight in 10 residents (82 per cent) support the proposal to advance the long-term planning and consultation work required to explore nuclear expansion on the Bruce Power site. In fact, support among those aware of the expansion is marginally higher (86 per cent) compared to the average population.

“We’re humbled and honoured that our surrounding communities continue to support the work we do to provide safe, clean and reliable power for the people, businesses and hospitals in Ontario,” said John Peevers, Bruce Power’s director of community and media relations and economic development.

“We take our role to operate safely, protect the environment and support community and charitable endeavours, seriously and we’re committed to earning this support each and every day through our ongoing focus on openness and strengthening our communities.”

Support for refurbishment was also at an all-time high of 86 per cent and a majority of residents now ‘strongly support’ refurbishment (54 per cent, compared to 46 per cent in 2021).

The polling also showed that support for the consultation and study process to engage residents in selecting a site for a long-term Deep Geologic Repository (DGR) for spent nuclear fuel, has increased to 78 per cent, up from 73 per cent in 2022.