Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): The Ontario government has announced $500,000 in “growth readiness funding” for Haldimand County to evaluate potential new energy projects at the site of the former Nanticoke coal-fired generating station. Closed in 2013, the facility—once the largest coal plant in North America—is being considered for a return to power generation to help meet the province’s projected 90 per cent increase in electricity demand by 2050.
Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce stated that the funding will support community consultations and planning for “firm” energy sources—reliable power that can be generated on demand. While no technology has been selected, the province is evaluating nuclear power, specifically small modular reactors (SMRs), alongside hydrogen and natural gas. Lecce noted that the 364-hectare site remains a strategic asset, already equipped with high-voltage transmission infrastructure, rail access, and port facilities that would be costly and time-consuming to replicate elsewhere.
Local officials have welcomed the potential revitalization of the site. Haldimand County Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley emphasized that the funds will be used to engage residents, neighbouring municipalities, and Indigenous partners to ensure transparency before any final decisions are made. For Deputy Mayor Deborah McKeen, who spent 27 years working at Nanticoke before its closure, the prospect of a second life for the plant is a positive development for the local economy, which suffered significant job losses when coal operations ceased.
The Nanticoke plant was historically Ontario’s largest single source of air pollution, and its closure was a central policy achievement for the former Liberal government. Minister Lecce acknowledged the importance of the province’s decarbonization efforts but criticized the lack of economic replacement strategies following the plant’s shutdown. He highlighted the potential for significant job creation, citing the Darlington SMR project—which is projected to generate thousands of construction and permanent roles—as a model for the economic benefits such an investment could bring to the region.
Business leaders in the area, including the Simcoe and District Chamber of Commerce, have expressed support, characterizing the potential project as a “catalyst for prosperity.” While natural gas facilities could potentially be developed within a few years, nuclear options like SMRs would likely require a decade-long timeline. The province maintains that a final decision on the energy source will only follow a period of meaningful engagement with the local community.
