Grid Talk: Ontario’s Global Lead in Small Nuclear Plants

“Nuclear really is the answer to meeting our baseload needs.” 

Todd Smith, Ontario Energy Minister

Ontario Canada’s government is all in on nuclear technology as it stakes out a global leadership position in small modular reactors (SMRs). In this episode of Grid Talk, host Marty Rosenberg talks with Todd Smith who is the Ontario Energy Minister. 

Rapid population and economic growth, coupled with the province’s long reliance on nuclear technology, prompted its decision to pursue SMRs.  

“We felt very comfortable in moving forward with the technology we’d chosen which is a 300- megawatt boiling water reactor from GE Hitachi,” said Smith. “We’re partnering with U.S. Technologies on this and other U.S. and international partners to develop the first-of-the-kind SMR, small modular reactor, here in Ontario.” 

“It’s baseload power, it’s there when you need it, it’s there and able to be relied on 365 days a year.” 

The province will need more generation as it expects to add five million residents over the next decade. 

“That’s going to require a lot of electricity.”  

Todd Smith has been the Ontario Energy Minister since June of 2021. Smith has served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario for more than a decade. He is a graduate of Loyalist College.