Port Hope’s radioactive past fuels pushback against proposed nuclear reactor

Port Hope, a community of approximately 18,000 people in Ontario, has faced a radioactive past that has sparked controversy over a proposed nuclear reactor. The Ontario government's announcement of plans to build one of the world's largest nuclear power plants in the picturesque town received celebratory speeches, with energy minister Stephen Lecce calling it a "positive step" toward a secure energy future and the local mayor predicting it would benefit the community and the province.

However, many long-time residents are outraged by the news, feeling "invisible" for nearly a century due to the nuclear industry's impact. The community has lived with the consequences of the 1930s-era Eldorado mining company's radium refinery plant, which dumped contaminated soil, rocks, and building materials across Port Hope for decades. These materials were used in parks, roads, schools, and homes, including the homes where some residents grew up and raised families.

In 2001, the federal government signed an agreement with Port Hope and nearby Clarington to clean up, isolate, and manage the historic low-level radioactive waste. The Port Hope Area Initiative, managed by Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, is now working on this task. The proposed new nuclear power project, owned by Ontario Power Generation, assures residents that today's nuclear industry operates under strict regulations, but the community remains skeptical.

OPG claims the new plant would support over 10,500 jobs and generate $235 billion in GDP for Ontario, with the potential to produce up to 10,000 megawatts of power, making it the world's largest nuclear power station. The province aims to receive construction and operation licenses in the 2030s and begin operations in the 2040s. Mayor Olena Hankivsky emphasizes that the cleanup and the proposed nuclear project are separate initiatives, but the community remains divided on the matter.