Location of a Potential Nuclear Build

Bruce Power has commenced a siting assessment to understand potential constraints and opportunities on the Bruce Power site, support conceptual layout development, and evaluate suitable areas for potential development.

The siting process allows for an objective, transparent and rigorous understanding of the Bruce Power site relating to land footprint suitability and provides foundational information that will assist with engagement with Indigenous Nations and Communities and local communities regarding siting. The siting areas will continue to be refined through engagement, and environmental and feasibility studies being completed to support the IA.

Bruce C Site

What was considered?

  • Environmental

    Impact to water, fish and wildlife habitat, including wetlands, animal movement corridors and areas with potential to support species of conservation concern.

  • Technical

    Surficial geology, faults, terrain, groundwater aquifer, depth to water table, depth to groundwater, distance to drinking water sources, proximity to water.

  • Cultural

    Avoiding areas of cultural and archaeological significance to Indigenous People.


Although the Impact Assessment takes a technology-neutral approach, a new build will require new intake and discharge structures in Lake Huron. Characteristics of proposed new intake and discharge structures (for example, locations) in Lake Huron will be informed by environmental and engineering studies, as well as input from Indigenous Nations and Communities. Alternative cooling strategies will be evaluated as part of the Impact Assessment.

Reactor Technology

A reactor technology has not been selected at this time, and will not be selected as part of the Bruce C Project Impact Assessment (IA). The IA will be technology neutral and use a Plant Parameter Envelope (PPE) approach, meaning it will use parameters from multiple reactor technologies and provide an assessment of the likely effects of a new nuclear project by forming a bounding case. This means that none of the individual reactor designs would have a greater impact on the environment, socioeconomic conditions or human health than what is included in the PPE and assessed in the Bruce C Impact Statement. This approach provides flexibility for Bruce Power as well as the province regarding future new nuclear deployment.

Note: The above image is for illustrative purposes only. Learn more about the PPE in documents posted to the Canadian Impact Assessment Registry.

Separate from the IA, Bruce Power is undergoing a Request for Information (RFI) process with potential reactor vendors to examine nuclear technologies. The evaluation of prospective nuclear technologies will focus on the value for rate payer, opportunities for Indigenous Nations and Communities, socioeconomic benefit for the local region, as well as factors including safety, readiness to meet provincial energy demands, environmental impacts, reliability and cost. The RFI is a commercially sensitive process that will provide sound guidance for potential future decisions and milestones.

Understanding that building a new nuclear facility is a complex process with long lead times, the Government of Ontario is also taking steps to ensure that both Bruce Power and OPG take a deliberate, coordinated approach to evaluating future large-scale nuclear technologies at our sites. To support this work, the government is establishing a New Nuclear Technology Panel that includes senior leadership from OPG, Bruce Power, the IESO and the government. The panel will ensure that the coordinated selection process considers a wide range of policy objectives — including safety, cost-effectiveness, energy security, and the potential to maximize economic and job benefits across Ontario. The panel will also ensure a coordinated approach to timing for a technology selection decision. Read more about this coordinated approach to reactor technology selection in Ontario’s Integrated Energy Plan (IEP).