Energy Minister Todd Smith directs IESO to bypass off-ramp for high-cost Bruce Nuclear re-build

Todd Smith

By Angela Bischoff, Director of the Ontario Clean Air Alliance

On April 14, 2022 Ontario’s Energy Minister, Todd Smith, directed the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) to take a pass on its opportunity to cancel the re-building of two of the Bruce Nuclear Station’s aging reactors despite the fact that energy efficiency, renewables and storage can now keep our lights on at a lower cost.

Background

In 2015 the then Premier of Ontario, Kathleen Wynne, directed the IESO to sign a 49-year contract with Bruce Power for the re-building of six of its eight nuclear reactors.

The Bruce Power contract permits the IESO to cancel the re-building of 4 of the 6 reactors without financial penalty if there are lower cost options to keep our lights on.   

As reported by the Globe and Mail on April 15, 2022, a suppressed IESO report reveals that Ontario can reduce its electricity costs by 8% by investing in energy efficiency, energy storage and 5,500 megawatts of new wind power.

What you can do

Please contact Energy Minister Todd Smith and your MPP, and tell them that you want Ontario to move to a zero-carbon electricity grid and lower electricity bills by investing in energy efficiency and renewables.

Please tell them that it doesn’t make sense to re-build aging nuclear reactors when we have cleaner, safer and lower cost options to keep our lights on.