Nuclear Power Central to Ontario’s 2025 Energy Plan

The Government of Ontario’s Energy for Generations plan, released last week, outlines the province’s strategy to meet rising energy demand through 2050. The plan integrates electricity, natural gas, hydrogen, storage, and other sources into a single long-term framework, with nuclear being identified as the foundation of Ontario’s clean, affordable, and reliable electricity system. According to the plan, Ontario’s electricity demand is forecast to increase by 75% by 2050, driven by economic and population growth, as well as the electrification of transportation, industry, and heating. To meet this demand, the province is planning a major expansion of nuclear capacity.

Nuclear currently supplies over half of Ontario’s electricity and forms the backbone of the province’s low-emissions grid. The plan validates the refurbishment of 10 nuclear reactors at two locations: the Darlington facility operated by Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and Bruce Power’s Bruce facility.
The plan additionally endorses potential refurbishment work on the Pickering B reactors, which fall under OPG’s ownership and operation. These refurbishment efforts are intended to prolong the operational period of Ontario’s current nuclear infrastructure while preserving its role in ensuring electrical grid dependability.

The plan also outlines intentions to build new nuclear facilities. OPG is leading the development of the first GE Vernova BWRX-300 Small Modular Reactor (SMR) at the Darlington site, with three additional units planned, marking this as the first commercial SMR project in a G7 country.

The government has also begun early development work for a major nuclear installation at Bruce Power, known as Bruce C, along with initial planning for another large nuclear facility at OPG’s Wesleyville site in Port Hope. Nuclear’s contribution extends beyond generation to grid stability, capacity, and energy security, especially as Ontario’s electricity system integrates more variable resources like solar and wind. Nuclear is positioned as a key technology to ensure reliability during peak demand and to support industrial operations that depend on stable baseload electricity. 

Ontario’s integrated energy planning approach also links nuclear expansion with broader economic and industrial goals. The province is pursuing international partnerships to expand its nuclear presence abroad, including agreements with countries such as Poland, Romania, and Estonia.
In support of these developments, the government passed the Protecting Ontario by Securing Affordable Energy for Generations Act, 2025 (Bill 40), which adds economic growth as a formal objective of Ontario’s energy agencies.

The legislation and the plan collectively mark a shift toward using energy policy, including nuclear investment, as a lever for long-term industrial competitiveness and energy resilience. Taken together, these actions represent more than a buildout. They signal a foundational recognition of nuclear energy’s role in Ontario’s energy future. As the province meets rising demand and decarbonizes its economy, nuclear will continue to deliver not just clean electricity, but lasting jobs, homegrown innovation, and the resiliency needed to power Ontario for generations to come.