Smitherman wonÂ’t support Nanticoke plants

The only private nuclear generating company in Canada says it will spend three years on an environmental assessment.

But Energy and Infrastructure Minister George Smitherman says the initiative "does not bear the approval, support (or) encouragement of the government of Ontario in any form."

He says Ontario is committed to maintaining about 50 per cent of the energy supply in nuclear, but that the province hasn't solicited a proposal that would add a new site.

Bruce says it will conduct the assessment for a new plant at the former Stelco lands in Nanticoke in southwestern Ontario.

Diane Finley, the MP for the area, is supporting the move.

Bruce has an option to buy the land from Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel, which bought out Stelco, but it won't actually purchase the lands before the environmental assessment is completed.

Both Haldimand and Norfolk councils unanimously passed resolutions supporting an environmental assessment into new nuclear facilities in the area.

Bruce Power CEO Duncan Hawthorne says looking at new sources of generation in the Haldimand-Norfolk region will give the company and the province a number of options to consider.

Bruce Power operates six Candu reactors at its electricity generating stations about 250 kilometres northwest of Toronto.

The Ontario-based nuclear power company is a joint venture of Saskatoon-based uranium giant Cameco Corp., TransCanada Corp. of Calgary and other partners.