18 of country’s 19 commercially operational atomic plants in Ontario
Fifty five percent of Canadians support the use of nuclear energy to generate electricity with support particularly strong in the province where most of the country’s reactors are located, according to an Ipsos study.
Support for nuclear is highest in Ontario, where 66% support nuclear energy.
Eighteen of Canada’s 19 commercially operational nuclear power plants are in Ontario, with the other one in New Brunswick.
These reactors amount to about 11,400 MW of generation capacity and are at three sites, Bruce, Darlington and Pickering.
Support is also strong in Atlantic Canada (65%) and the Prairie provinces (64%), while it is on par with national average in Alberta (56%) and British Columbia (52%).
Support is by far lower in Quebec, where only one-third (34%) support the use of nuclear energy to generate electricity. Quebec had two nuclear plants at Gentilly, but they have both been permanetlyshut down, the last in 2012.
Six-In-10 Support Refurbishment
Regarding the need for future electricity generation and the role of nuclear energy, a strong majority of Canadians agree that Canada needs more electricity generation to meet future demand (87%) and that nuclear energy should play a role in meeting this demand, in tandem with renewable generation such as wind and solar (62%).
Approximately six-in-10 (63%) Canadians support the refurbishment of existing nuclear power plants, while half (51%) support the construction of new nuclear power plants.
Support for refurbishment and building new nuclear power plants is highest in Ontario (74% and 62% respectively), while it is lowest in Quebec (44% and 31% respectively).
Six-in-10 Canadians agree that nuclear energy can help Canada meet its climate change goals (62%) and that nuclear generation can be considered a clean form of electricity (58%).
