In a report issued Dec. 9, Ontario Power Authority laid out its general plan on how its infrastructure and transmission system will be expanded over the next 20 years. Called The Supply Mix Advice Report, the provincial utility recommends that nuclear power generation remain stable at a rate accommodating 50% of the provinces demand. Ontarios nuclear powerplants are approaching the end of their design life and installed capacity could drop from nearly 12,000 MW in 2006 to below 1,000 MW in 2025 unless new generating stations are built or existing plants upgraded, says the report.
This is a recognition of the important role nuclear power will have to play, says Steve Cannon, a spokesman for Bruce Power, the operator of the power station in Tiverton. The report coincides with Bruce Powers upgrade to its 750-MW Bruce A station.