The Ontario government and Ontario Power Generation (OPG) have announced a $500,000 investment in growth readiness funding for St. Clair Township. The funding will support the next phase of planning for potential new electricity generation at OPG’s Lambton site, including natural gas and nuclear generation.
The former Lambton Generating Station site covers approximately 1,200 acres and is already zoned to accommodate up to 900 megawatts of new electricity generation, enough to power as many as 900,000 additional homes. The property also offers access to existing transmission infrastructure, rail service, port facilities and industrial land.
The funding will allow St. Clair Township and OPG to enter into a formal memorandum of understanding and continue assessing opportunities for the site. OPG will also continue discussions with the municipality, First Nations communities and other local partners as the work progresses.
For Sarnia-Lambton, new generation at the site could create considerable economic benefits. These include construction and skilled trades opportunities, long-term employment once a facility is operational, additional funding for community infrastructure and the potential to attract industries that require access to reliable energy. The project could also create opportunities for local manufacturers, engineering firms and other companies within the regional supply chain.
“We commend Minister Lecce and the Government of Ontario for recognizing the strategic importance of OPG's Lambton site and for advancing assessment of new generation opportunities, including nuclear power. Sarnia-Lambton has long been one of Ontario's key energy clusters, and this is exactly the kind of investment we've been positioning to deliver, as part of a diverse energy mix. Our region has the manufacturing, engineering and skilled trades capacity to support projects of this scale, and the Lambton site's history of energy production makes it uniquely positioned to help meet the province's future electricity needs — strengthening Ontario's economic competitiveness and energy security for years to come.” - Matthew Slotwinski, CEO, Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
SLEP will continue to support OPG, St. Clair Township and regional partners as the process advances, with a focus on helping local businesses and workers prepare for future investment, employment and supply chain opportunities.
