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Ontario Premier Doug Ford was in Clarington, Ont., Friday to mark the start of site preparation for Canada’s first grid-scale small modular reactor (SMR) at the Darlington nuclear site.
The Premier was joined by Energy Minister Todd Smith to mark the milestone.
“With global businesses looking to expand into jurisdictions with clean and efficient electricity, small modular reactors will help compete for and attract more game-changing investments in Ontario’s economy,” said Ford.
“Our government is doing this and building the future of nuclear energy right here in Ontario to support the needs of our growing province.”
The new SMR will be Ontario’s first nuclear reactor built in a generation, according to the Ministry of Energy, and will deliver 300 MW of electricity, “enough to power 300,000 homes.”
In March 2022, constructor ES Fox was awarded the contract to deliver early site preparation, which includes water supply, electricity, information technology and road services.
“This work, valued at $32 million, will support over 100 new jobs in Durham region,” the Ministry of Energy said in a release issued Friday.
Currently, about 60 per cent of Ontario’s daily electricity use comes from nuclear plants, but demand is growing.
As older nuclear plants near retirement age, the Independent Electricity System Operator says natural gas will be needed in the coming years or there could be rolling blackouts across the provincial grid and higher electricity bills. by 2030.
However, Minister Smith maintains nuclear power will be the “backbone” of electricity in Ontario for years to come as the province aims to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Labor could prove another obstacle — the Ontario government estimates there will be a skilled trade shortage of 350,000 people by 2025.
“It’s something we’re working closely with the province in various trade areas,” said Ontario Power Generation President Ken Hartwick.
Once open, the new Darlington plant will employ 200 people during operation, as well as 2,300 jobs during planning and development, according to a 2020 study by the Conference board of Canada.
It is scheduled to be completed in 2028.
On the files from CTV’s Andrew Brennan.
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