Faced with renewed economic uncertainty from the United States, the Ontario government is looking to make the province more independent when it comes to power generation.
$500,000 from the province and Ontario Power Generation is being invested in St. Clair Township to take the next steps on new electricity generation, including potential for natural gas or nuclear, at the former Lambton Generating Station. Those steps will include community consultation, including local First Nations.
“As Ontario faces unprecedented economic attacks from President Trump, we are doubling down on made-in-Canada energy, with a plan to create 150,000 tariff-proof jobs,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines in a news release. “OPG’s Lambton site was once an important part of Ontario’s energy story, and with electricity demand growing, we are ensuring it can once again power our growth. While we face new U.S. tariffs, now is exactly the time to build with ambition, using Canadian energy built by Canadian workers, all while firing up the Canadian supply chain.”
The plant was closed in 2013, but the province now wants to revive the site, saying it will be up to the community to decide what type of power it creates.
“The potential for new energy generation at OPG’s Lambton site is exciting news for the Sarnia-Lambton region and a fitting use for a location that helped power the province for more than four decades,” added Bob Bailey, MPP for Sarnia-Lambton. “I look forward to the discussions with our local Indigenous partners, municipalities, and stakeholder groups as we develop the plan for this site and our energy and economic security in Ontario.”
Officials say the 1,200-acre site is already zoned to host up to 900 megawatts of new generation, enough to power up to 900,000 homes.
