Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is mulling whether to turn a 45-year-old generating station near Port Hope into a new nuclear facility.

The utility says it has heard from the Town of Port Hope and area First Nations that there is interest in reviving the long-dormant Wesleyville Generating Station and transforming it into a nuclear generating station.

“OPG is pleased to engage with First Nations and the Town of Port Hope to explore the potential for new nuclear power generation at our Wesleyville site,” said OPG President and CEO Nicolle Butcher. “We are committed to a transparent, thorough process with many opportunities for input, and to building strong relationships and partnerships with host communities, neighbours, and First Nations on whose traditional territory we operate.”

The station at Wesleyville was originally constructed in the 1970s as an oil-fired station, but was never brought into service after the oil shocks in the late 1970s brought construction to a halt.

OPG has maintained the site since, in the event that Ontario needs additional power. Now, with the province’s Independent Electricity System Operator forecasting electricity demand to grow by 75% by 2050, Wesleyville is back in the spotlight.

The site is one of three, along with Lambton and Nanticoke, that OPG is exploring with municipalities and First Nations for potential new generation.

With a footprint of 1,300 acres—the equivalent of more than 900 American football fields—OPG says Wesleyville could be an ideal site for new large nuclear facility.

The site is also already zoned for electricity generation, has proximity to transmission, and is ideally located within a Southern Ontario region that has access to necessary resources and is experiencing significant growth.

Based on OPG’s early assessments, the site could host up to 10,000 MW of new nuclear generation, which could power the equivalent of 10 million homes.

As a first step, OPG and the Province of Ontario will ensure the municipality and First Nations have the necessary resources and capacity funding to participate in a multi-year process to assess the site. This work will help identify a suitable generation technology and complete a range of Impact Assessment activities.

In addition to power, a new nuclear station at Wesleyville could generate important economic and associated benefits, including attracting co-industries to the site.

According to the Conference Board of Canada, a potential nuclear development would contribute $235 billion to Ontario’s GDP over an estimated 95-year project life, which includes design, construction, operation, and maintenance. It could also support 10,500 jobs across Ontario, including 1,700 new jobs in Port Hope, representing an average 15 to 20% boost to overall employment levels in the local area.

The project could also increase economic and job opportunities for First Nations, who will have an opportunity for equity participation in any generation project.