Ontario's Minister of Energy and Electrification says the Ford government is considering all forms of energy when it comes to potentially utilizing area generation sites to grow the power grid.
MPP Stephen Lecce was in Point Edward on Tuesday morning as a guest speaker during the annual Breakfast with MPP Bob Bailey event at Four Points by Sheraton, organized by the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce.
One of the topics Lecce discussed followed up on a previous announcement made in November 2024, to work with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to begin talks with municipalities and Indigenous communities about new energy generation at existing sites in Port Hope, Haldimand County, and St. Clair Township.
He said "all options are on the table" when it comes to possible ways to generate power, such as nuclear, natural gas, hydrogen, small modular reactors, and battery storage.
"It really will be a decision and a consultation that the community will lead. We're not going to prejudice it, meaning they're going to be in the driver's seat. The first request is we need a municipal support resolution to get this process started," said Lecce. "So we're going to respect this process, we're going to respect the community, we're going to work with them in good faith, to build our energy security that is affordable and reliable."
Lecce said any power generated in Lambton County will be used, for the most part, by Sarnia-Lambton and the broader southwestern Ontario region.
Aside from meeting increasing demand, Lecce said these projects would create and secure thousands of jobs in host communities.
"We're not going to get ahead of ourselves. We're putting it on the table, we're putting money on the table, for the three sites, $50 million to support municipalities [and] improve infrastructure," Lecce said. "We see a great potential to build upon the industrial strengths of this region."
A timeline has not been set but Lecce said the province hopes to have consultations completed this year.
"Most of these projects take, depending on the type of energy source, a few years. Some, like nuclear, could take upwards of a decade," Lecce said. "We want to secure this energy within the next decade. We foresee demand rising, particularly in the 2030s."
Lambton County Warden Kevin Marriott was happy to hear the minister talk more about the prospect of utilizing the old OPG generating station, which currently sits idle.
"We've been hoping that something was coming to replace what was there previously for the good of the county as a whole," said Marriott. "It would have been nice to know a little [more about the] timeline but the fact that they have it on the planning board, is encouraging."
Courtright's Lambton Generating Station closed after 44 years of operation in 2013 when the province decided to phase out coal power generation. A scheduled implosion took place at the site in February 2022, and the final large structures were pulled down in December of that year.
Marriott said he doesn't want to be overly anxious but he would like to see a project timeline of two to five years.
"I'm more comfortable after hearing the minister, that there is a lot of thought going into it," he said.
As for the types of power generation, Marriott said he doesn't have concerns but he's curious to learn more.
"The new nuclear, of what I've heard, is very clean and much safer than the older technology so I'm anxious to see more details on that," Marriott said. "Lambton County council would definitely be open to considering what their plans are."
Lecce said nuclear power "is fundamental to our future" in Ontario.
"About 50 per cent of Ontario's energy source, 60 per cent of our base load comes from nuclear power, non-emitting nuclear power," Lecce said.
During his speech, Lecce also highlighted recent projects, such as Hydro One's new Chatham to Lakeshore Transmission Line. He also promised to continue to advocate and emphasize the importance of Line 5 as a new government comes into office in the U.S.
Lecce also took part in a question-and-answer period where he discussed hydrogen production, natural gas production, and women in the energy sector.