Campaigns for a Healthy Environment in Northumberland County
Blue Dot Northumberland works on local campaigns that protect our air, water, land, and communities. Each campaign is rooted in the right to a healthy environment and built in partnership with residents, community groups, and local leaders.
Wesleyville New Nuclear
Campaign
What You Need to Know
A proposal is underway to build one of the world’s largest nuclear power plants in Port Hope - but key facts about its cost, risks, and alternatives have not been shared with the public.
The Big Picture
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Massive cost: $245 billion +—paid by taxpayers and hydro users
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Higher prices: Nuclear power costs more than twice as much as wind and solar
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Long-term risks: Radioactive waste remains dangerous for hundreds of thousands of years
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Health concerns: Radiation exposure and accident risks cannot be ignored
Do We Need It?
Ontario already produces surplus electricity at times, even paying millions of dollars to Americans to take it! Meanwhile, cleaner, safer, and more affordable renewable energy and energy efficiency options are available today—but are not being prioritized.
What’s Missing
Before moving forward, Ontarians deserve:
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Transparent costs
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Honest discussion of risks
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Real consideration of renewable and conservation alternatives
Our Future, Our Choice
This project will shape Ontario for generations.
The question is simple: Are we making the best decision—or just the biggest one?
What This Proposal Really Involves
The plan is to build a 10-reactor nuclear power station in Wesleyville/Port Hope, producing up to 10,000 MW of electricity—making it the largest nuclear facility in the world.
But despite its scale, the project is still missing key details:
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No confirmed reactor design
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No full cost estimate released publicly
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No clear comparison with alternative energy options
This means the public is being asked to support a project without a complete picture.
Why Cost Is Such a Big Concern
Nuclear projects are notoriously expensive and prone to delays:
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Comparable projects (like in Georgia, U.S.) took 15+ years to build
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Costs always rise far beyond initial estimates
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Ontario residents are still paying off debt from nuclear plants built decades ago
Even more important:
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There are no private investors — so all financial risk falls on the public.
The Alternatives Aren’t Being Taken Seriously
One of the strongest arguments against this nuclear proposal is there are better options:
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Wind, solar, and storage are already cheaper and widely used
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Renewable systems are faster to build and easier to scale
Yet, the proposal does not include a meaningful comparison with these alternatives, which is required under the federal Impact Assessment Act. Section 22 (d) and (f).
Health and Safety: Low Probability, High Impact
While nuclear plants are generally safe in normal operation, the concern is about worst-case scenarios
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Severe accidents could significantly increase cancer risks, especially in children
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Emergency plans rely on rapid response measures (like distributing iodine tablets)
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Long-term exposure risks remain a concern for nearby communities and workers
The key issue is not everyday operation—it’s the potential consequences if something goes wrong. Of the 425 reactors in the world 3 have had major accidents -Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima.
The Nuclear Waste Problem
This is one of the most unresolved issues:
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High-level nuclear waste remains hazardous for hundreds of thousands of years
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Canada still has no permanent disposal solution in operation
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Storage, transport, and security all carry ongoing risks
This creates a long-term environmental responsibility far beyond current generations.
A Bigger Strategic Question
Ontario already produces surplus electricity at times, and has even:
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Sold electricity at a loss
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Paid other regions to take excess power
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So the question becomes:
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Is this project really about meeting Ontario’s needs—or exporting energy?
Centralized vs. Resilient Energy
There’s also a philosophical difference in energy planning:
Nuclear model:
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Large, centralized, complex
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High consequences if something fails
Renewable model:
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Distributed (many smaller sources)
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More flexible and resilient
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Failures are smaller and easier to manage
This matters more as we face climate change and increasing uncertainty.
The Core Issue
The public is being asked to support a massive, costly, and potentially risky project without full transparency or a
fair comparison to better alternatives.
Blue Dot Northumberland encourages residents to submit feedback to the federal Impact Assessment Review process before the upcoming May 7 th deadline. Comments should be submitted online by visiting the project home
page (Project reference number 89802..Click here).
Become a volunteer with BlueDot Northumberland and continue to learn and help educate our communities on the full impact of the largest and most costly infrastructure project in Canadian history. Volunteer
Listen to Canadian energy analyst, Ralph Torrie, describe how building the largest nuclear plant in the world at Wesleyville will impact Northumberland with more than jobs. Listen Here
Preserving Agricultural Lands
Northumberland County is rooted in a rich agricultural heritage, with farming standing as the region’s largest and most vital industry. Many of these farms have been lovingly maintained by the same families for five generations or more, forming a deep connection between the land, community, and local economy.
Blue Dot recognizes that these family farms—and the productive farmland that sustains them—are essential to the county’s identity, food security, and long-term sustainability. Protecting this land from unchecked development is not just important, it is necessary.
This protection must be achieved through thoughtful, responsible land use planning that prioritizes agricultural preservation, supports farming families, and ensures that future generations can continue to cultivate and benefit from this invaluable resource.
Family farming is more than just our heritage—it is essential to building a healthy, sustainable future. These farms provide local food, support the rural economy, and help maintain the environmental balance that benefits the entire community.
Blue Dot has actively worked with county planners to review and provide input on land use policies affecting Northumberland County. As part of this process, we have voiced strong opposition to certain proposed large-scale developments that would replace significant areas of productive farmland with residential and commercial expansion.
We believe that growth must be managed responsibly. Protecting farmland through thoughtful planning ensures that development does not come at the cost of our food systems, our environment, or the generations of farming families who have cared for this land. Sustainable communities depend on preserving the agricultural lands that sustain them.
When you are attending our events, please sign our petition to save agricultural land in Northumberland County.
Climate Adaption and Resiliency Plan
Northumberland County’s Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Plan was developed through the efforts of the Adaptation & Resiliency Working Group—a 19-member team representing County departments, local municipalities, conservation authorities, and community organizations, including BDN and Community Power Northumberland.
Bringing together participants from a wide range of backgrounds ensured that the Plan reflects the diverse climate change concerns of the entire community. This collaborative approach also allowed for the integration of knowledge from multiple fields, resulting in a comprehensive and practical implementation strategy.
The Working Group identified potential climate impacts on Northumberland’s natural, built, and socioeconomic systems using projections developed in partnership with the Ontario Resource Centre for Climate Adaptation (ORCCA). Through detailed vulnerability and risk assessments, the group determined which impacts were most likely to occur and evaluated their potential consequences.
From this analysis, a set of high-priority climate risks was established. The Working Group then developed a targeted action plan to address these risks, with particular focus on projected increases in temperature and precipitation. They also defined key outcomes for the County’s climate adaptation efforts and identified specific actions to help achieve those goals.
The final report was approved by County Council at its March 26 meeting.
Once BDN’s team has completed its review of the County’s implementation process and determined how best to contribute, we will share updates on our role and provide information on how our volunteers can get involved.