SUMMARY of the Basic Article : The Szpinner

Ontario’s Nuclear Gamble: A $73 Billion Bet on Clean Energy

The Investment

Ontario has committed over $73 billion to nuclear energy, with potential costs exceeding $100 billion as the province plans to triple its nuclear generation capacity. Major projects include refurbishing existing reactors and building new Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) at sites like Darlington, Pickering, and a proposed massive facility at Wesleyville.

The Case For Nuclear

Proponents argue nuclear power offers unique advantages: stable baseload power without emissions, compact land footprint, and support for 89,000+ Canadian jobs. Energy Minister Stephen Lecce emphasizes Ontario’s track record of completing recent refurbishments on time and on budget, while positioning the province as a global SMR leader with export potential.

The Case Against Nuclear

Critics point to serious concerns including construction delays, massive cost overruns on international projects (some exceeding budgets by 2-7 times), and catastrophic accident risks. They argue renewables offer faster deployment at dramatically lower costs—wind and solar now generate three times more global electricity than nuclear and are being built at unprecedented speed worldwide.

The Cost Debate

While government budgets project manageable costs, some analysts warn Ontario’s nuclear buildout could reach $400 billion based on real-world international projects. An IESO study found renewables with battery storage can provide dispatchable power for half the cost of nuclear, though SMRs produce baseload power at two-thirds the cost of renewables with batteries.

The Political Reality

Ontario cancelled all renewable projects when Doug Ford took office in 2018, costing $231 million. No new renewable projects have been commissioned since, even as global renewable costs dropped 70-90% and wind/solar became the cheapest electricity sources in most countries. The province has now doubled down on nuclear as its primary climate solution.

The Timeline

The first SMR, originally scheduled for 2028, is now delayed until 2030—an early test of whether Ontario’s nuclear ambitions represent strategic foresight or an expensive miscalculation.