Ontario converts Nanticoke coal plant to solar farm

Mar. 14, 2016 – Ontario Power Generation (OPG) and its partners, Sun Edison Canadian Construction LP and Six Nations Development Corporation, have been selected by the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESCO) to develop a 44 MW solar facility on and near the Nanticoke Generating Station site on Lake Erie.

The plant was once the largest coal-fired power plant in North America, says OPG, producing nearly 4,000 megawatts of power at full capacity. It was permanently decommissioned last year.

“The Nanticoke project is a great opportunity for Ontario to take a former coal plant site and transform it into a clean and reliable solar power plant,” said Michelle Chislett, SunEdison’s vice president and country manager for Canada. “SunEdison’s excellent track record delivering high quality and cost effective solar power plants was a major contributor to OPG deciding to work with us on the project. This project is a great example of how countries are retiring coal plants and replacing them with clean, renewable power plants.”

The contract is just one of 16 in the IESO Large Renewable Procurement program announced last week.

“I am thrilled with this opportunity,” added Jeff Lyash, OPG’s president and CEO. “OPG is already Ontario’s largest renewable energy producer and this will be an important addition to our portfolio. We stopped burning coal at Nanticoke in December 2013 and this is an investment in a cleaner energy future for Ontario.”

This is OPG’s fourth First Nation’s partnership. These partnerships have helped produce more renewable generation from Lac Seul (Lac Seul First Nation), the Lower Mattagami River (Moose Cree First Nation), and most recently the Peter Sutherland Generating Station on New Post Creek (Taykwa Tagamou Nation), which is currently under construction.

“We are delighted that Nanticoke Solar was selected,” said Matt Jamieson, Six Nation’s Development Corporation president and CEO. “The project aligns with our community values of sustainability and environmental prosperity. Investing in clean energy benefits the people of Six Nations economically without compromising our children’s future. We look forward to working with our partners to make this project a success.”

The partners will now work together to obtain the required approvals and contracts needed to start construction.