Bruce Power, Ontario reach $300M predevelopment agreement on Bruce C

The Bruce C nuclear power plant expansion project in Ontario, Canada, moved one step closer to fruition last week with the May 7 announcement that Bruce Power and the provincial government of Ontario had entered into a cost-sharing and recovery agreement that could be worth C$300 million ($219.4 million).

Ontario has directed the province's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to enter into the agreement with Bruce Power so the Canadian utility can proceed with First Nations and community engagement, workforce planning, preconstruction and site preparation planning, and other critical activities that fall under predevelopment work. This work would be completed by 2030.

About the expansion: The Bruce C project has been touted as Canada's first major expansion of a large nuclear plant in decades. The 6,584-MWe, eight-reactor Bruce A and B site along Lake Huron is Canada's only private-sector nuclear generator. The proposed expansion would add up to 4,800 MWe of new generating capacity, making it the largest nuclear power station in the world.

Predevelopment work is happening in parallel with the impact assessment application Bruce Power submitted to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada in 2024 and the license to prepare site application it will ultimately file with the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.

According to Bruce Power, Bruce C is currently in the impact statement phase of this process. This includes engagement with the public, municipal governments, and Indigenous communities. The federal impact assessment process is expected to be completed in 2028.

The proposed expansion would provide enough power for 4.8 million homes, add C$238 billion ($174 billion) to Canada's GDP, create 18,900 jobs during the construction phase, and create 6,700 jobs once it is operational.

"Our government is thinking big and long-term as we build on-time and on-budget, leading the largest nuclear expansion on the continent that will help put 150,000 Canadians to work," Ontario Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce said in a statement. "This is the economic spark that will help Ontario reindustrialize, attract job-creating investment, and keep power reliable for families, farms, and businesses."

Community engagement: In addition, independent polling conducted in Bruce, Grey, and Huron counties found that 86 percent supported the exploration of the Bruce C project, and 91 percent believed the project would be good for the community.

As part of the Bruce C project, the utility announced it is hosting various in-person informational sessions in Bruce, Grey, and Huron counties to provide an overview of the project and provide public access to Bruce Power subject matter experts. The sessions will begin on May 14 and continue into June.

This will also include engaging with the Indigenous communities like the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON), on whose territory the Bruce site is located.

"Advancing early planning for Bruce C allows us to responsibly explore how additional nuclear generation on the Bruce site can play a crucial role in supporting Ontario's long-term energy needs and drive economic stability and growth," said chief operating officer/executive vice president James Scongack. "This work is about taking the right steps in gathering information, engaging meaningfully with Indigenous communities and municipalities, and ensuring that any future decisions have been well thought out and carefully scrutinized."

More information about these sessions can be found on the Bruce Power website.

Bruce's energy plans: Bruce power plant is a key cog in Ontario's Energy for Generations, a 2025 integrated energy plan that maps out the province's energy wants and needs into 2050. According to the plan, the province could need up to 17,800 MW of new nuclear generation to meet future demand; nuclear power currently provides more than half of Ontario's electricity supply.

Along with Bruce C, the facility's Major Component Replacement project aims to extend the plant's operational life through 2064. Bruce Power signed an agreement with Ontario to refurbish six of the plant's eight reactors. During this project, key reactor components like steam generators, pressure tubes, calandria tubes, and feeder tubes will be replaced. The project is scheduled to wrap up in 2033.

"Today's support for predevelopment work on the Bruce C project is a critical step in ensuring Ontario has the reliable, affordable, and carbon-free electricity it needs for generations to come," said Bruce Power president and CEO Eric Chassard.