Toronto, Ontario, December 3, 2016 – Home to 107 million people and responsible for US$5.8 trillion in economic activity in 2014, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Region’s prosperity and competitiveness is fuelled by affordable – and increasingly cleaner – energy like nuclear power.
The agreement announced today between Bruce Power and the Province of Ontario, which comes in the midst of a crucial global climate change summit in Paris, will continue to strengthen the role that nuclear power plays in the region’s energy mix, the growth of Ontario’s economy, and the province’s plans to shift to a low carbon future.
“This is positive news, not only for the province but the entire region, as it secures the future of Bruce Power, which operates the world’s largest nuclear generating facility in Tiverton, Ontario,” said Mark Fisher, President & CEO of the Council of the Great Lakes Region. “The states and provinces that make up the region rely on nuclear power for 30 per cent of their electricity and 50 per cent of their non-emitting electricity supply. This announcement, therefore, is a major boost of confidence for the entire nuclear industry in the region and the many other industries that provide direct and indirect support to this part of the region’s energy sector,” added Fisher.
In September 2016, a report titled, ‘Driving Economic Growth & Keeping the Air Clean: The Role of Nuclear Power in the Great Lakes Region,’ provided an in-depth look at nuclear energy in the eight states and two provinces that make up the region. The report was a collaborative effort between Bruce Power, the Council of the Great Lakes Region and the Provincial Building & Construction Trades Council of Ontario.
Key highlights from the report included:
- Emissions-free nuclear power annually avoids 250 million metric tonnes of CO2 in the air, which is equivalent to removing over 52 million passenger cars from the roads.
- The 55 nuclear reactors in the Great Lakes region directly and indirectly employ over 80,000 highly skilled workers annually through operations, manufacturing, support and contract.
- These facilities combine to inject an estimated $10 to $12 billion a year into the Great Lakes economies through direct and indirect spending in operational equipment, supplies, materials and labour income.
“Ontario is once again positioning itself as a leader in the nuclear industry while fighting climate change and focusing on infrastructure investments that will grow the provinces economy, safely and sustainably. This announcement today is a triple win in delivering on these priorities,” added Fisher.
About the Council of the Great Lakes Region
Established in 2013, the Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) is an independent, non-profit corporation that was created to think strategically about the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Region as a bi-national economic region. It mobilizes business leaders, lawmakers, government executives and policy specialists, academia and advocates from non-governmental organizations in accelerating regional economic growth safely and sustainably. The Council achieves this mandate by building innovative partnerships, convening thought-provoking events that stimulate conversations and ideas, conducting insightful research and generating sensible policy solutions.
For more information contact
Mark Fisher – 613-668-2044 – mark@councilgreatlakesregion.org
