GE Hitachi chosen to build new nuclear reactor at Darlington

Premier Doug Ford is hoping GE brings good things to light.

GE Hitachi has been selected to build the first new nuclear reactor in Ontario in decades.

As first reported by the Globe and Mail on Wednesday night, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has chosen the company to construct a small modular reactor (SMR) at the Darlington generating station in Clarington.

“With today’s announcement, Ontario is leading the way in new nuclear technologies — like SMRs — that represent tremendous economic and environmental opportunities for our province and all of Canada,” Energy Minister Todd Smith said Thursday.

“SMRs can provide reliable and emission-free energy while creating jobs, economic growth and export opportunities,” said Smith, adding it is a chance to “showcase Ontario’s nuclear expertise to the world.”

The project, which sources say will cost several billion dollars, would be Canada’s first commercial SMR and should be up and running by 2028.

Unlike the nation’s existing nuclear stations, the new reactor would not use Candu technology.

In 2020, nuclear power accounted for 56.8 per cent of Ontario’s electricity generation, compared to 24.4 per cent for water (hydro), 8.7 per cent for wind, 6.4 per cent for natural gas and 2.4 per cent for solar.

While disposing of nuclear waste has always been a challenge, one SMR can prevent up to two megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

OPG, a Crown utility, said the project would create 700 jobs during development, 1,600 during construction and manufacturing, 200 during operations and 160 when it is eventually decommissioned after about 60 years.

“Nuclear is a key proven zero emissions baseload energy source that will help us achieve net zero as a company by 2040, and act as a catalyst for efficient economy-wide decarbonization by 2050,” said Ken Hartwick, OPG’s president and chief executive officer.

GE Hitachi president Jay Wileman said “this is a significant and concrete action in the fight against climate change that will also create jobs across Ontario and Canada as we leverage the robust and growing nuclear supply chain.”

The federal government and Ford’s Progressive Conservative administration at Queen’s Park have been working with other provinces to boost SMRs.

But environmental groups like Greenpeace oppose their construction, warning they will end up being more costly than wind or solar power, which is cleaner and safer.

At Queen’s Park, Green Leader Mike Schreiner said “building a large SMR at Darlington makes absolutely no sense — especially because it’s going to be higher-cost electricity.”

Schreiner noted small reactors were designed for “remote areas or for specialty things like steel-making” and said the Tories are only building one there because of an existing environmental assessment.

“They’re taking the easy road and not the right road,” he said.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath expressed concern about the “cost overruns” that have plagued every Canadian nuclear project.

“We have to do a lot better when it comes to other sources of green energy,” said Horwath, urging an increased focus on renewable electricity.

Robert Benzie is the Star’s Queen’s Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie