Continued Operation of Darlington Nuclear Generating Station: An Impact Analysis on Ontario’s Economy

Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) Darlington Nuclear Generating Station supplies approximately 20 per cent of Ontario’s electricity needs. Having been in operation since the early 1990s, the station is approaching the mid-point of its operating life. At this stage, its CANDU reactors require a major refurbishment to replace critical components. As a result, OPG is overseeing a 17-year, $12.8 billion refurbishment project that is designed to allow the station to continue operating safely through to 2055.

Signal49 Research was commissioned to estimate the economic impact of this refurbishment investment on Ontario’s economy. Continued Operation of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station: An Impact Analysis on Ontario’s Economy reports that continued operation of the station is expected to increase Ontario’s nominal GDP by $75 billion from 2017 to&n2055, and boost the number of jobs in the province by an average of 14,200 per year over the same period.