Ontario investing $1B in four SMRs at Darlington; federal fund adds $2B

Ontario will invest $1 billion through the Building Ontario Fund to build four small modular reactors at Ontario Power Generation’s Darlington Nuclear Generating Station in Bowmanville, the government announced Oct. 23, 2025. The federal Canada Growth Fund will provide $2 billion. Construction on the first unit began in May 2025, with first power targeted for 2030.

The Darlington New Nuclear Project is the first small modular reactor project in the G7 and part of a wider nuclear expansion to meet electricity demand. When complete, the four units are expected to produce 1,200 megawatts, which the province says is equivalent to powering about 1.2 million homes.

The province projects 18,000 jobs during construction and about 3,700 jobs during operations. It estimates the project will add $38.5 billion to Canada’s gross domestic product over 65 years and inject about $500 million annually into the Canadian supply chain.

Ontario says it worked with OPG to direct 80 percent of project spending to Ontario companies, including suppliers in the steel sector. Provincial funding will support construction and operation of the first unit, and the project’s structure is intended to allow additional private‑sector and Indigenous investment, according to the announcement.

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission recently approved OPG’s operating licence at Darlington through 2045. The province described it as the longest operating licence the regulator has issued.

The government linked the Bowmanville project to a broader nuclear program that includes refurbishments at the Darlington and Pickering generating stations and work with Bruce Power. Ontario is also exploring OPG’s Wesleyville site in Port Hope for up to 10,000 megawatts of new nuclear generation, and pre‑development work with Bruce Power is assessing up to 4,800 megawatts of additional large‑scale generation.

The $1 billion will come from the Building Ontario Fund, which finances infrastructure in energy, housing, long‑term care, transportation, and municipal and community projects. Through the 2025 budget, the province approved up to a further $5 billion for the fund.