The Ford government is aiming to bring life back into the former Lambton Generating Station (LGS) site in Courtright with $500,000 in growth readiness funding to launch the planning process.
Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce, along with area MPPs and local dignitaries, were in St. Clair Township Tuesday morning to announce the investment.
"We know that in this community, there is tremendous opportunity," Lecce said. "Once a symbol of uncertainty, this site is now turning into a land of opportunity."
Lecce stressed the importance of power generation in the wake of recent U.S. imposed tariffs on roughly $28 billion of Canadian goods and the threat of additional tariffs on Canada's auto and steel sectors.
"The truth is folks, we need to generate 90 per cent more power by 2050, the question is how do we do it reliably, responsibly, using made in Canada technology? How do we double down on Canada? One of the few tariff-proof, recession-proof industries that are emerging is nuclear," Lecce said. "Where the technology is Canadian, the fuel is Canadian, the workforce is Canadian, built by and for Canadians, and so this is our moment to build big. Knowing that no matter what the insanity that happens or comes out of Washington, we will be strong, free, and united."
Lecce said Tuesday's funding commitment is the first step, which would enable St. Clair Township to start the consultation process.
"Whatever we do in this community will only proceed based on the local perspectives of the municipality, the ratepayer, the taxpayer, and of course, the First Nations," he said.
Lecce said the timeline will depend on what type of power is generated from the site. A natural gas facility could be fired up in two to three years, which would be the quicker option; whereas nuclear power could take roughly 10 years, but would be his personal preference.
"You may generate power in a decade, but the jobs start almost immediately. The leveling of the land, all the construction work, the civil work, 80 per cent of our investment will be civil engineers and civil skilled trades work, meaning thousands of jobs," Lecce said.
"I think we should go big," Lecce continued. "I think we should be ambitious, I think we should do things that are going to leave our kids better off. So, yeah, you're hearing a bit of a preference for nuclear but we're going to respect the will of this community."
St. Clair Township Mayor Jeff Agar said his preference has always been gas, but there is the possibility to start with one and finish with nuclear.
"My preference right now? Go big," Agar said. "The more jobs, more revenue... that's my hope right now. Our trades, every time you see somebody's kid having to go out of town for a job, that's just disheartening to me -- especially when you have value sitting over there. So I'm excited."
During Tuesday's media conference, Agar said it has always been his goal to see life brought back to the former LGS site.
"When the Lambton site was closed in 2013, it was devastating for St. Clair Township and its residents. Approximately 400 high-paying jobs were lost, and St. Clair Township lost about $2 million in tax revenue, which we have still not fully recovered from," Agar said. "With the new St. Clair Transmission Line being constructed, it is now time to fully power up this site again."
Agar said St. Clair Township council has already endorsed potential new power generation, including nuclear power at the Lambton site.
Lecce initially announced plans to work with Ontario Power Generation (OPG) to grow the province's energy grid in 2024. He also discussed the possible options for power generation, such as nuclear, natural gas, hydrogen, small modular reactors, and battery storage during a Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce event held in 2025.
Earlier this year, Atura Power's proposal for a new natural gas power plant in St. Clair Township was rejected by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO).
Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries MPP Sam Oosterhoff said Ontario is facing unprecedented electricity demand.
"That's exactly why this project is going to be so important for St. Clair Township. Providing up to 900 megawatts of new power to support growth for generations to come, and a megawatt is the equivalent of 1,000 new homes, so almost the equivalent of a million homes will be powered out of the incredible small modular reactors that we are going to be advancing here on this site."
Nearly a decade after LGS closed its four coal-fired units in 2013, the buildings and smokestacks were demolished in 2022.
The 1,200 acre site is currently zoned for generation.
