Ontario will explore building its largest nuclear power station near Port Hope after securing initial support from local authorities and Indigenous communities, Energy Minister Stephen Lecce said on Wednesday.

Ontario Power Generation plans to begin impact assessments this year at the Wesleyville site, targeting construction permits in the 2030s and operations in the 2040s.

The proposed facility would generate 8,000 to 10,000 megawatts of power, exceeding the capacity of any existing nuclear plant in the province.

“We have a demand forecast of 75% more power in the province, four-and-a-half cities (the size) of Toronto,” Lecce told a news conference, adding the expansion “will reduce emissions and massively grow our economy.”

The announcement advances Lecce’s November directive for OPG to evaluate three potential power generation sites. While Port Hope moves forward, discussions continue for possible developments at Nanticoke in Haldimand County and Lambton in St. Clair.

The Wesleyville location carries historical significance, having originally been designated for an oil-fired power station in the late 1970s before economic pressures halted construction.

Port Hope municipality and the Williams Treaties First Nations have expressed willingness to continue discussions about the nuclear project, marking the first positive response to OPG’s community engagement efforts.

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