Ontario reconfirms Bruce Power's role in Long-Term Energy Plan

The Government of Ontario has reconfirmed its long-term electricity supply policy which will see Bruce Power, and nuclear, play an important role in the province’s energy sector for decades.

The 2017 Long-Term Energy Plan was released Thursday (Oct. 26) after a year of public consultation and government review. The plan reiterates the importance of Bruce Power’s Life-Extension Program which will see the site provide low-cost, carbon-free and reliable electricity through 2064.

Company president and chief executive officer Mike Rencheck said it is important to have stable government policy in place so Bruce Power can make long-term investments to secure low-cost electricity for families and businesses.

“We are encouraged by the trust the government continues to have in Bruce Power to provide over 30 per cent of Ontario’s electricity at 30-per-cent less than the average cost to generate residential power, while producing zero carbon emissions,” he said. “Our Life-Extension Program, which began Jan. 1, 2016, is on-time and on-budget, and continues to boost Ontario’s economy in every corner of the province.”

The government also recognized Bruce Power’s other attributes, including its production of medical isotopes, which save lives in Ontario and around the world. Bruce Power’s investment programs and operations also create and sustain 22,000 jobs, directly and indirectly, each year, while injecting $4-billion into the economy annually, all while keeping Ontario’s air clean and providing low-cost electricity.

“By extending the life of the Bruce site, Ontario will have the stable, reliable, low-cost and clean energy foundation needed to further pursue modernization and decarbonization of the province’s electricity system and economy,” Rencheck said. “Nuclear will provide the backbone Ontario needs to meet and exceed its emissions targets, while benefitting families and businesses as a low-cost, reliable source of electricity through 2064.”

The Long-Term Energy Plan, which is reviewed every four years, is available for download at https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontarios-long-term-energy-plan.

Watch a video about the history of the Bruce Power site and its role in Ontario through 2064 at https://youtu.be/rJ1MW5E_avE.

Meanwhile, a number of others, including many MPPs, have expressed their support of Bruce Power and nuclear as part of Ontario’s electricity supply due to the low cost, reliability and cleanliness of the energy source. Watch a video that highlights the political support at https://youtu.be/rVovsRJBsQQ.

Here’s what people are saying about the plan:

“This plan is a positive blueprint for Ontario’s energy sector," said Scott Travers, president of the Society of Energy Professionals, "and by confirming Bruce Power’s role, along with the rest of our nuclear fleet, it will ensure the province will continue to have a modern, clean electricity system that will create and sustain jobs and generate significant economic benefits across Ontario.”

“Hatch was proud to be a contributor during the Long-Term Energy Plan consultation to help the Ontario government frame its energy policy to address the need for clean, affordable and reliable energy for the citizens of Ontario," said Jim Sarvinis, managing director, power, at Hatch. "There is no doubt that nuclear is an important piece of this puzzle.”

“The provincial government’s announcement today shows the commitment to nuclear power, which in turn supports thousands of highly-skilled jobs for tradespeople across Ontario and their local economies," said Mark Hall of the Sheet Metal Workers Local 473. "The continued support of nuclear refurbishment means steady work on the Bruce Power site for decades to come and the Sheet Metal Workers and Roofers are proud to be part of that project.”

“The Association of Power Producers of Ontario has always supported a long-term approach to electricity planning, which draws on the strengths and attributes of diverse generation technologies, and welcomes the government’s continued commitment to nuclear power," said David Butters, president and chief executive officer. "Nuclear power provides more than 50 per cent of Ontario’s electricity, and is a clean and reliable source of energy, which also supports thousands of skilled jobs. Nuclear energy played a critical role in eliminating Ontario’s coal-fired plants, virtually eliminating smog, and significantly reducing our carbon footprint.”

“Promation Nuclear firmly endorses the critical role nuclear power plays in Ontario’s Long-Term Energy Plan, as the principal provider of the only established, robust, low-carbon, baseload energy solution for Ontario," said Darryl Spector, vice-president and general manager. "This commitment to the Long-Term Energy Plan – and in turn, the associated large-scale refurbishments at Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Bruce Power – ensures the province not only maintains, but increases, the development of a highly-skilled, well-paid trade workforce. As a result, we firmly believe this development and critical-mass mobilization of skilled human talent following the refurbishments, has a direct contributing role in achieving Ontario’s broader mandate to restore the prominence, relevance and competitiveness of our manufacturing base, and once again establishes Ontario’s position as a destination-of-choice for global business investment and an unprecedented exporter of manufactured goods.”

“Kinectrics firmly believes that nuclear energy has a definite and important role to play in Ontario’s Long-Term Energy Plan," said David Harris, chief executive officer. "Nuclear energy is the backbone of our generation infrastructure in Ontario, and it delivers relatively cheap and clean power; thereby, spearheading Ontario’s efforts in meeting long-term reduced emissions, as well as providing tens of thousands of high-quality jobs, contributing heavily into the economy.”

“Asthma Canada believes nuclear power is an important part of a clean-air energy mix which includes wind, solar and hydro, and is critical for meeting the energy and air quality needs of people with asthma and respiratory issues in this province," said Vanessa Foran, president and chief executive officer. "We applaud the Long-Term Energy Plan's commitment to clean-air energy to help slow climate change, and believe it is beneficial to the health and wellness of the people of Ontario. Asthma Canada is proud to partner with Bruce Power to support a clean-air energy mix for the province, helping all Ontarians breathe easy.”

“We are very pleased that the Long-Term Energy Plan reconfirms the Ontario government’s decision to invest in a secure, clean and affordable electricity system through refurbishment and major component replacement of four Darlington units and six Bruce units, as well as extension of the operation of Pickering nuclear units to 2024," said Ron Oberth, president and chief executive officer of the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries. "These projects will create and sustain highly-skilled jobs in many small- and medium-sized enterprises that contribute to local economic development in cities and towns across Ontario, from Cambridge, Niagara, Burlington and Oakville in the west to Durham, Peterborough, Cobourg and Arnprior in the east.”

“The ongoing commitment to the life-extension plans for Bruce Power outlined in the Long-Term Energy Plan is very welcome news," said Ian Howcroft, senior vice-president and legal counsel for Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters. "The $13-billion investment program will be a significant boost to Ontario and will allow Bruce Power to continue providing affordable, reliable electricity, which is a key priority to the manufacturing sector.”

“NA Engineering Associates applauds Ontario’s commitment to the cost-effective refurbishment of existing nuclear assets at Bruce and Darlington, and the continued operations of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station as outlined in today’s revised Long-Term Energy Plan," said Nick Aroutzidis, president and chief executive officer. "From our established Kincardine office minutes from the Bruce Power site to our recently opened office next door to OPG in Pickering, we are confident that our investments – together with the province’s commitment to nuclear – will positively impact our communities and the families and businesses within them for decades to come. NA Engineering Associates is excited to help Bruce Power and OPG empower Ontario with a low-cost source of clean energy!”

“We are excited that the Ontario government’s Long-Term Energy Plan will provide steady employment to the many innovative Canadian companies with their plants and employees right here in Ontario and Canada,” said Rolf Eberl, president of SED Inc.

“With the announcement of the Long-Term Energy Plan today, we are enthusiastic about the future of the nuclear industry in Ontario," said Ryan Plante of the Carpenters Union, Local 2222. "Support of the Long-Term Energy Plan will create stable employment opportunities for many communities throughout the Province of Ontario for decades to come. A commitment to refurbishing Ontario’s nuclear fleet is a commitment to all Ontarians to provide safe, reliable, clean and low-cost energy. The Carpenters Union is proud to be a part of the refurbishment of Ontario’s nuclear fleet.”

“The release of the Long-Term Energy Plan signifies an important step toward rebuilding Bruce Power’s remaining reactors," said Scott Hyndman, Ironworker Business Agent, Local 736 Hamilton. "Hamilton Ironworkers Local Union 736 is looking forward to working closely with Bruce Power for many years to come to help achieve this goal.”

“E.S. Fox Limited employs Ontarians in Bruce County, Pickering, Darlington and the Niagara Region, who will be working for many years to come as a result of the modernization and asset management of Ontario’s nuclear fleet, and we are very proud to be a part of such an important undertaking for the province,” said Terry Armstrong, vice-president, nuclear.

“The Ontario Chamber of Commerce believes continued investment in nuclear generation assets, as supported in the Long-Term Energy Plan, will result in a constructive outcome for Ontario’s economy," said interim chief executive officer Richard Koroscil. "Low-cost electricity from Bruce Power – which generates 30 per cent of Ontario’s electricity at 30-per-cent less than the average cost to generate residential power – and other nuclear generators will help Ontario’s businesses compete in a global market. The Long-Term Energy Plan’s commitment ensures that nuclear power will continue to be one of the most affordable sources of energy, which helps keep the price of power down in Ontario for our members and their families”