Ontario Refurbishes Hydroelectric Station in Cornwall

Mayor Justin Towndale, City of Cornwall; MPP Nolan Quinn, Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry; Scott Gagnon, OPG Director of Plant Operations, Southeast Operations; Amanda Griener, OPG Director of Asset Management and Project Management, Southeast Operations; Chief April Adams-Phillips, Tsi Snaihne District Chief, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne; Paul Seguin, OPG Senior Vice President, Renewable Generation; and the Honorable Todd Smith, Minister of Energy.

CORNWALL – On Friday, March 10, 2024, Ontario Energy Minister Todd Smith announced a $600 million infrastructure renovation program for the RH Saunders Power Plant in Cornwall. RH Saunders is the second largest hydroelectric plant in the province. This infrastructure program would invest more than $600 million to provide 1,045 megawatts (MW) of clean electricity, equivalent to powering more than one million homes, helping to meet growing electrification demand and fueling the province’s growth.

“The RH Saunders Generating Station – the second largest hydro facility in the province – has provided Ontario with clean electricity since 1958, and with today’s investment, we are extending the life of the station by several decades to help Ontario meet its electricity growing. needs,” said Todd Smith, Secretary of Energy. “This renovation program – part of our Powering Ontario growth plan – will create jobs and ensure we have the power we need for the next major international investment, the new homes we build and industries as they grow and it electrifies.”

OPG will renovate 16 units in total at the RH Saunders Generating Station. The rehabilitation will include major rehabilitation of the generating equipment through civil, electrical and mechanical improvements that will enable the station to produce more electricity from less water. Once completed, the station is expected to produce up to 160 gigawatt hours of additional clean electricity each year, equivalent to powering more than 19,000 homes.

Work on the RH Saunders Generating Station will take place over the next 16 years, creating over 200 highly skilled and well paid jobs in Cornwall.

MCA District Head April Adams-Phillips said: “Today we are brought together by a shared commitment to partnership and collaboration. I express my sincere appreciation to our esteemed partners at OPG, whose support and dedication have been instrumental in bringing our partnership to this point. Together, we have the opportunity to exchange ideas, make meaningful connections and explore innovative solutions to the challenges we face, to be inspired by the possibilities that lie ahead of us here at Saunders, will provide jobs and capacity building opportunities for Akwesasne

members. May this event be a catalyst for transformative change and may our collective efforts pave the way for a better tomorrow.”

This investment in Ontario’s hydroelectric fleet is just one part of Powering Ontario’s Growth, the government’s pragmatic plan that outlines the actions the province is taking to meet growing energy demand and reduce emissions by expanding Ontario’s reliable, affordable and clean grid , including:

Nuclear Power – Advancing reliable, affordable and clean nuclear power through pre-development work at Bruce Power, four small modular reactors at Darlington and supporting OPG’s plan to refurbish Pickering Nuclear Generating Station.

Competitive procurement – ​​Procurement of 4,000 MW of electricity generation and storage and the launch of more competitive procurement for non-emitting electricity resources, including wind, solar, hydro, batteries and biogas.

New Transportation Infrastructure – Designating and prioritizing transportation lines in Southwestern, Northeastern and Eastern Ontario that will power job creators including EV and electric vehicle battery manufacturing and clean steel production.

Keeping costs down – Launching new energy efficiency programs on January 1, 2025, building on the government’s $342 million expansion of existing energy efficiency programs that help families and businesses reduce their electricity use so so that they can save money on energy bills.

Mayor Cornwall Towndale said: “The City of Cornwall welcomes the province’s investment in the RH Saunders Generating Station. This renovation project will ensure that the facility can continue to provide clean energy for decades to come, while creating hundreds of skilled jobs in our community.”