I’m not prepared to say yes or no to a project of this size before we know what we are actually being asked to accept and how it will impact Port Hope. There is an important distinction between what has been proposed and what has been proven. OPG has proposed the potential for up to 10,000 MW of nuclear generation at Wesleyville, but the reactor technology has not yet been selected and the project is still going through the federal impact assessment process.
I also want to make sure we’re dealing with established facts and not conjecture. The questions you’re asking about cost, alternatives and environmental impact are exactly the questions that should be tested before a decision of this magnitude is made. As you know, Port Hope doesn’t decide Ontario’s electricity generation mix or set electricity rates. Those responsibilities largely rest with the Province, the IESO and other regulators. My responsibility is to protect Port Hope’s interests and make sure our community has the information and independent expertise necessary to judge what this project would mean here. As Mayor, that’s what I intend to do.
I supported the agreement that provides Port Hope with funding to participate meaningfully in the assessment process. The current MOU is explicitly not a host agreement and does not commit Port Hope to hosting the project; it provides a framework for participation and $4.5 million in growth-readiness funding.
I also believe credible alternatives – including energy efficiency, wind, solar and storage – should be evaluated on their actual costs, reliability, environmental effects and ability to meet Ontario’s future electricity needs.
So, to answer your question directly, I have not concluded if a nuclear station is the right use of Wesleyville, and I have not concluded that it is the wrong use. I want the evidence first. If this project can’t demonstrate a reasonable economic case, strong environmental protections and a clear long-term benefit for Port Hope, I would not expect our community simply to accept it.