Combined, the Sir Adam Beck dams provide about nine per cent of the province’s electricity, which is the equivalent of powering 1.7 million homes. Pictured: Ontario Energy Minister Todd Smith. Photo Credit: Todd Smith/X.
The government of Ontario has announced it is spending $1 billion to extend the lifecycle of the province’s largest hydroelectric dams, which are in Niagara Falls.
The Sir Adam Beck I and Sir Adam Beck II generating stations are located along the Niagara River.
Combined, the two dams provide about nine per cent of the province’s electricity, which is the equivalent of powering 1.7 million homes.
“For more than 100 years hydroelectric power from Niagara Falls has powered our province,” said Ontario Energy Minister Todd Smith. “With today’s investment we’re extending the life of those stations by another 30 years to help Ontario meet its growing electricity needs.”
Ontario Power Generation is a Crown corporation in charge of managing Ontario’s energy supply. OPG will be leading the effort to refurbish the Sir Adam Beck dams, partnering with GE Vernova, an energy equipment company headquartered in the United States.
The first phase of the refurbishment will begin in 2025. Nearly all of the current equipment will be replaced with newer parts over the course of the refurbishment project. The project is expected to last 15 years to minimize the loss of energy production that come with taking parts of each plant offline.
Ken Hartwick, the President and CEO of OPG, emphasized the importance of the project to meeting the growing energy needs of Canada’s largest province.
“Upgrading and optimizing OPG’s renewable generation workhorses like the Sir Adam Beck complex is crucial to support the growing demands of electrification and a thriving economy,” said Hartwick. “Through this refurbishment, this hydropower facility will build on its century-plus history, and continue to produce the low-cost, reliable electricity Ontario needs for decades to come. “
The government of Ontario expects roughly 200 skilled jobs to be created in the Niagara area to manage this new project.
Ontario Minister of the Environment Andrea Khanjin emphasized the importance of hydroelectric power in ensuring the province has a solid supply of clean energy, noting the energy produced through the Sir Adam Beck complex provides “clean, reliable and affordable power” and will last for generations.
Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati also released a statement on the province’s plans to refurbish the Sir Adam Beck complex and spoke about its implications of the local Niagara economy.
“Through this significant investment Niagara Falls will continue to help power Ontario,” said Diodati. “We welcome the good jobs and economic development this project brings with it and are proud to build on our long history of clean energy generation.”
The province’s expects demand for energy in Ontario to grow by nearly 60 per cent by 2050, making the maintenance and expansion of Ontario’s energy grid all the more crucial. The completed undertaking is expected to increase the stations’ capacity by as much as 50 megawatts.
In addition to the Sir Adam Beck complex refurbishment project, the province has also announced significant new efforts to strengthen Ontario’s nuclear energy supply.
Jay Goldberg is the Ontario Director at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. He previously served as a policy fellow at the Munk School of Public Policy and Global Affairs. Jay holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Toronto.
