Area officials check out future economic opportunities with Bruce Power's Life-Extension Program

More than 150 developers, realtors and municipal officials from across Bruce, Grey and Huron counties had a first-hand look at the expected economic opportunities that will accompany Bruce Power’s Life-Extension Program, during an information session, Friday.

“This was a great opportunity to bring together representatives from across our three counties to look at opportunities to work together to support Bruce Power’s investment program, and the critical role it plays in Ontario,” said Bruce County warden Mitch Twolan.

The developer information session, part of the joint Nuclear Economic Development and Innovation Initiative between the County of Bruce and Bruce Power, outlined the planning and development considerations as they relate to the impending economic development opportunities, said Kelley Coulter, chief administrative officer of Bruce County.

“We wanted this session to be an open forum for discussion and dialogue amongst the municipal sector, the county’s planning department, Bruce Power, developers and realtors,” she said. "We are encouraging developers and communities to look at the investment opportunities in the area and how we can support regional growth opportunities.”

James Scongack, Bruce Power’s vice-president of corporate affairs and environment, said the entire region will benefit from the Life-Extension Program, which officially began Jan. 1, 2016, and remains on-time and on-budget. The first of six Major Component Replacement projects will begin on Unit 6 in 2020. In the meantime, the county and Bruce Power continue to work together to have suppliers invest in the area by opening offices in Bruce, Grey and Huron counties, and by hiring local people, which will boost the region’s economy.

With this unprecedented investment program will also come a need for new housing, which is why the developer session was so important, Scongack added.

“Our goal is to maximize the economic impact our $13-billion private, on-site investment has on the community as a whole,” he said. “Bruce Power is investing billions into our site so it can provide low-cost, carbon-free electricity for Ontario families and businesses through to 2064, and we want our suppliers and contractors to also invest in our communities, which have supported the nuclear industry without fail since the 1960s.”

To learn more about the Nuclear Economic Development and Innovation Initiative visit www.brucepower.com/about-us/life-extension/economic-development-and-innovation-initiative/.