The massive concrete silhouettes of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station have defined the skyline of Lake Ontario's northern shore since the early 1970s. For decades, locals and commuters on the 401 just accepted them as a permanent fixture, a sort of brutalist monument to Canadian engineering that quietly hummed along while the world changed around it. But for a long time, the narrative was that Pickering was on its way out. It was old. It was tired. The plan was to pull the plug, decommission the units, and let the site fade into the history books of the nuclear age.
Then everything shifted.
In early 2024, the Ontario government pulled a massive U-turn, announcing that they wouldn't be letting Pickering go gentle into that good night. Instead, they’re embarking on a multi-billion-dollar refurbishment project to keep the station running for another 30-plus years. Honestly, it’s one of the biggest energy gambles in provincial history. We’re talking about thousands of jobs, billions in capital, and a fundamental bet that nuclear is the only way to keep the lights on in a world trying to ditch carbon. If you've been following the news, you know this isn't just a simple "fix-it" job. It's a total teardown and rebuild of the station's B units.
The Nuclear Workhorse That Wouldn't Quit
Pickering isn't just another power plant. It’s one of the world's oldest operating nuclear facilities. When it first came online, it was a marvel of the CANDU (Canada Deuterium Uranium) design. Unlike the light-water reactors used in the States, these things can be refueled while they’re actually running. That was a game-changer back then. It meant less downtime and more reliability. For a province like Ontario, which doesn't have its own massive coal or gas reserves but has plenty of uranium up north, it was the perfect fit.
The station is split into two parts: Pickering A and Pickering B.
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Units 1 and 4 (the remaining active parts of Pickering A) have already seen some work, but the real meat of the current discussion is Pickering B—Units 5 through 8. These are the reactors that the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) says we desperately need. Why? Because Ontario’s electricity demand is skyrocketing. Between the push for electric vehicles, the massive new battery plants in Windsor and St. Thomas, and the sudden explosion of AI data centers that eat power like there’s no tomorrow, we’re looking at a massive supply gap.
Basically, we're running out of juice.
What Does Refurbishment Actually Look Like?
Don't think of this like a kitchen renovation. It’s more like taking a 1970s car, stripping it down to the frame, and replacing every single moving part with 21st-century tech while keeping the original chassis.
The process involves removing thousands of fuel channels, feeder tubes, and end fittings. It’s incredibly precise work. You have to use specialized robotics because, well, the inside of a reactor isn't exactly a place where you want humans hanging out with a wrench for too long. Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has a bit of a head start here, though. They’ve been doing this at Darlington—just down the road—and they’ve actually been hitting their milestones.
The refurbishment of Darlington Unit 2 was completed in 2020, and Unit 3 followed ahead of schedule. That success is really the only reason the Pickering project got the green light. If Darlington had been a disaster, Pickering would be a graveyard right now.
The Elephant in the Room: The Cost
Nobody likes to talk about the price tag because, frankly, it’s astronomical. While the government hasn't pinned down a final, "to-the-penny" number yet, estimates for similar projects suggest we’re looking at $10 billion to $15 billion, if not more.
Critics—and there are plenty of them—argue that we should be dumping that money into wind, solar, and massive battery storage. They point to the falling costs of renewables and the "nuclear premium" we all pay on our hydro bills. It's a fair point. Nuclear projects are notorious for budget overruns. If you look at the Vogtle plant in Georgia or the Hinkley Point C project in the UK, the numbers are enough to give any taxpayer a heart attack.
But the pro-nuclear side has a pretty convincing counter-argument: baseload power.
Wind doesn't always blow. The sun definitely doesn't shine at 6:00 PM on a snowy January evening in Pickering when everyone's turning on their heat pumps and charging their Teslas. Nuclear provides that steady, unyielding "floor" of electricity. Without it, you’re either burning natural gas—which kills your climate targets—or you’re crossing your fingers and hoping the batteries hold out.
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Safety, Waste, and the "Not in My Backyard" Factor
Living near a nuclear plant is always going to be a point of contention. People in Durham Region are generally pretty supportive—mostly because the station provides thousands of high-paying, stable jobs—but the safety concerns never truly go away.
OPG maintains that Pickering is one of the safest plants in the world. It’s built with multiple layers of redundancy. However, the age of the facility does bring up questions about structural integrity. Refurbishing the internal components is one thing, but you’re still relying on 50-year-old concrete containment structures. OPG’s engineers have spent years doing "life extension" studies to prove these structures can handle another few decades of stress, but for some, the anxiety remains.
Then there’s the waste.
Used nuclear fuel is currently stored on-site in dry storage containers. They look like giant concrete silos. They’re safe, they’re monitored, but they’re also temporary. The long-term plan is the Deep Geological Repository (DGR)—a massive underground bunker carved into stable rock. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is still in the process of finalizing a site, likely in either the Revell site near Ignace or the South Bruce area. Until that’s built, everything stays at Pickering and Darlington.
Why This Matters to You (Even If You Don't Live in Ontario)
The Pickering Nuclear Generating Station is a litmus test for the global energy transition. If Ontario can successfully refurbish an aging plant and keep it cost-effective, it provides a blueprint for other countries that are currently on the fence about nuclear.
The world is watching.
We’re seeing a global "Nuclear Renaissance." Japan is restarting reactors it shut down after Fukushima. France is doubling down. Even some environmentalists who used to be staunchly anti-nuclear are changing their minds because they realize the math for "Net Zero" just doesn't work without it.
If Pickering fails—if it goes billions over budget or faces massive delays—it will be a huge blow to the industry. It will signal that old nuclear is too expensive to save. But if it succeeds? It secures Ontario’s energy independence for a generation.
Navigating the Future of Pickering
If you're a resident, a worker, or just someone interested in the energy sector, there are a few things you should keep an eye on over the next 24 months.
First, look for the official "Environmental Assessment" updates. This is where the nitty-gritty details about water usage and local impacts will come out. It’s also the prime time for public consultation.
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Second, watch the IESO’s "Pathways to Decarbonization" reports. These documents are dry, but they tell the real story of why the government is making these choices. They show the projected gap between the power we have and the power we need.
Finally, keep an eye on the supply chain. The refurbishment isn't just about OPG; it’s about hundreds of smaller companies in Ontario that make the valves, the sensors, and the specialized tools. This project is basically a massive stimulus package for the province's high-tech manufacturing sector.
The decision to refurbish Pickering Nuclear Generating Station wasn't made out of a love for old tech. It was made out of necessity. We’ve built a society that demands infinite, clean, reliable power, and right now, those old concrete towers on the lake are the only thing standing between us and a very dark, very cold future.
Actionable Steps for Staying Informed
- Check the OPG Project Site: Monitor the "Pickering Refurbishment" page on the Ontario Power Generation website for quarterly updates on timelines and milestones.
- Review Local Air and Water Quality Data: The Durham Region Health Department and OPG both release regular reports on environmental monitoring around the station.
- Attend Public Meetings: If you live in the Durham area, go to the town halls. It’s the only way to get your questions answered directly by the engineers and policy makers.
- Understand Your Bill: Look at the "Global Adjustment" on your Ontario electricity bill. This is where the costs of these massive infrastructure projects eventually show up, and understanding it helps you see the true cost of the energy transition.
- Track the DGR Progress: Follow the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) to see where Ontario’s long-term waste will eventually end up, as this remains the biggest "unsolved" part of the nuclear puzzle.