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.

  • Social

    Avoiding areas of significance.

  • 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.

Technology Selection

Bruce Power has not selected a reactor technology at this time, and the Impact Assessment for the Bruce C Project will be technology neutral. This approach considers multiple technologies to provide optionality to the province in long-term electricity system planning.

The Impact Assessment provides an assessment of the likely effects of a new nuclear build by using parameters for each reactor type and forming a bounding case for the impact of a new construction, known as a Plant Parameter Envelope (PPE). This means none of the individual reactor designs would have a greater impact on the environment, socioeconomic conditions or human health than what is defined in the PPE.

Bruce Power’s evaluation of prospective nuclear technologies will focus on the value for ratepayers, opportunities for Indigenous Nations and Communities, socioeconomic benefits for the Clean Energy Frontier region of Bruce, Grey and Huron Counties, and factors including safety, environmental impact, reliability and cost.