The federal Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) received more than 700 public submissions about Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG’s) proposal to build the world’s largest nuclear station in Port Hope.

The message from the public is clear:

  • More than 80% of respondents oppose the proposal
  • Only about 5% support it.
  • More than 70% are calling for the IAAC to consider lower-cost and faster alternatives to keep our lights on — including wind and solar power combined with energy storage.

Unfortunately, on February 20th the IAAC told OPG that it is not required to respond to the public’s concerns about the need for the project, its impact on electricity rates and taxes, nor the existence of lower cost renewable alternatives.

Under the Impact Assessment Act, the IAAC is legally required to consider several key factors before approving a project, including:

  • Comments received from the public;
  • The need for the project;
  • Economically feasible alternatives;
  • Changes to economic conditions that are likely to be caused by the project; and
  • The project’s impact on Canada’s climate commitments.

Failing to require OPG to examine alternatives to a $230 billion nuclear mega-project is inconsistent with these legal obligations.

At the same time, OPG is already seeking approval from the Ontario Energy Board to raise its price of nuclear energy by 72.6% next year.

Ontario families and businesses cannot afford higher electricity bills.

Instead of doubling down on expensive and slow-to-build nuclear reactors, we should be investing in much lower-cost renewable energy — like wind, solar and energy storage — that can be deployed far more quickly.

These solutions can reduce electricity costs, strengthen energy security, and help Canada meet its climate commitments.

What you can do

Please contact Terence Hubbard, President of the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, and Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, and tell them to follow the law by examining the economic and climate benefits of investing in renewable energy solutions instead of high-cost new nuclear reactors.

Tell the IAAC that Ontarians deserve a fair assessment of all viable options before committing to the most expensive energy project in Canadian history.

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