Ontario Refurbishing Hydroelectric Station in Mattawan

The 243-megawatt station will continue its legacy of supplying reliable, affordable and clean power for decades to come

 Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing announced that the Ontario Government is expanding and refurbishing clean electricity generation by announcing support for Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) $160 million investment to refurbish the 243-megawatt, eight-unit Otto Holden generating station in Mattawan. This work is part of OPG’s infrastructure program to invest approximately $1 billion to secure 1,617 megawatts (MW) of clean electricity across eight hydroelectric stations, equivalent to powering 1.6 million homes, helping to meet increasing demand from electrification and fueling the province’s growth.

“This critical investment in our people and communities will bring good-paying jobs while continuing the Otto Holden generating station’s legacy of supplying clean power for at least another 30 years,” said Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing. “Moreover, this refurbishment will help secure clean, green power we need to fuel our growing economy and support the hardworking families of this region.”

“The Otto Holden Hydroelectric Station, completed in 1952, was the vision of Dr. Otto Holden, who served the Ontario Hydro Electric Power Commission for 47 years. His vision of producing clean, affordable and renewable electricity for the Province of Ontario has been carried forward, by this generating station that bears his name, for the past 70 years. This investment to refurbish the Otto Holden Hydro Station will ensure that Dr. Hoden’s vision of meeting Ontario’s power demands with clean, safe, and renewable electricity will continue for many decades to come, while meeting the needs of our growing province.”- Mayor Peter Murphy, Mattawan.

“Otto Holden has been part of the Mattawa area hydroelectric infrastructure since the early 1950s providing clean energy and local employment. This investment ensures the continued safe operations of the station for many years to come,” states Mattawa Mayor Raymond A. Bélanger.

OPG will refurbish 45 units across eight generating stations in Eastern Ontario: Otto Holden, Chenaux, the Arnprior, Barrett Chute, Mountain Chute, Stewartville, Chats Falls, and Des Joachims. The work includes major rehabilitation of generating equipment to increase production. Once completed, the stations are expected to be optimized by about 100 gigawatt hours of additional clean electricity each year, equivalent to powering 11,000 more homes.

The work will take place over the next 20 years, creating more than 500 highly skilled and well-paid jobs across the region.

This investment in Ontario’s hydroelectric fleet is just one part of Powering Ontario’s Growth, the government’s pragmatic plan which outlines the actions the province is taking, subject to receiving all necessary approvals, to meet growing energy demand and reduce emissions by expanding Ontario’s reliable, affordable, and clean grid, including:

·       Nuclear Energy – Advancing reliable, affordable, and clean nuclear power through pre-development work for new large-scale nuclear at the Bruce Power site, planning and licensing for four small modular reactors at Darlington and supporting OPG’s plan to proceed with next steps toward refurbishing the Pickering Nuclear Generation Station.

·       Competitive Procurements – Acquiring 4,000 MW of electricity generation and storage and planning more competitive procurements for electricity resources including wind, solar, hydroelectric, batteries and biogas.

·       New Transmission Infrastructure – Designating and prioritizing transmission lines in Southwestern, Northeastern and Eastern Ontario that will power job creators including EV and EV battery manufacturing and clean steel production.

·       Keeping Costs Down – Launching new energy efficiency programs on January 1, 2025, building on the government’s $342 million expansion of existing energy efficiency programs which are helping families and businesses reduce their electricity use so they can save money on their energy bills.