The Pickering Nuclear Generating Station has begun a major transformation. As of Monday, September 21, 2026, four of its reactors are being taken off-line to make way for a refurbishment project that carries an estimated price tag of $26.8 billion.
While the reactors are now offline, the actual refurbishment work is not scheduled to begin until January. The project is expected to keep the units out of service for roughly ten years and, once complete, will extend the plant's operational life by as much as 38 years. According to the province, the refurbished station will generate enough electricity to power 2.2 million homes.
The scope of the work is immense. It includes replacing 1,520 fuel channels and 48 boilers, as well as constructing a 1.5-kilometre deep-water intake.
Energy Minister Stephen Lecce is championing the project, highlighting that it will support 30,500 jobs and that the vast majority of the costs will remain within Ontario. The refurbishment is a key part of Premier Doug Ford's government's strategy to rely heavily on nuclear energy to meet the province's growing electricity demands.
However, the plan is not without its critics. Environmental Defence has raised concerns that with Pickering's reactors offline for most of the next decade, Ontario will become even more dependent on natural gas for electricity generation. The group warns that this increased reliance on natural gas could lead to a rise in greenhouse gas emissions.
As the refurbishment gets underway, the people of Ontario will be watching closely to see how this massive investment shapes the province's energy future for decades to come.
