TORONTO - Mar 7, 2008

Ontario is moving forward in its plan to bring on replacement nuclear generation by way of a competitive procurement process.

Minister of Energy Gerry Phillips this morning outlined a two-phase competitive Request For Proposal (RFP) process to select a nuclear reactor vendor.

The announcement is the next step in the government's 20-year energy plan, first announced in June 2006. That plan focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and Ontario's overall carbon footprint while ensuring a reliable, affordable and environmentally responsible electricity supply.

The proposal process includes an array of expertise and oversight:

A commercial team directed by Infrastructure Ontario will manage the procurement process

Team members will include Ontario Power Generation, Bruce Power, the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Finance

A two-member decision review board will review the competitive process

It will also be monitored for fairness by a fairness monitor.

As a result of global reviews of available nuclear technologies conducted by the Ministry of Energy, Ontario Power Generation and Bruce Power, four internationally recognized vendors will be invited to participate in the first phase of the proposal process:

AREVA NP – US Evolutionary Pressurized Reactor

Atomic Energy of Canada Limited – ACR 1000 Advanced CANDU Reactor

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy – Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor

Westinghouse Electric Company – AP 1000 ™ nuclear power plant

“Our priority is a fair, transparent, competitive process that will assure Ontarians we will get the best deal on clean, affordable and reliable electricity to light their homes and power the economy for decades to come,” said Minister of Energy Gerry Phillips. “Building replacement nuclear facilities will bring economic benefit to Ontario. It will help Ontario meet its future energy needs, keep prices stable, cut our carbon footprint and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

QUICK FACTS

In June 2006, the government announced a balanced, clean, reliable and affordable 20-year energy plan. The plan will:

Conserve 6,300 megawatts of electricity by 2025

Double renewables to 15,700 megawatts by 2025

Eliminate coal-fired generation by the end of 2014

Maintain nuclear energy capacity for baseload operation up to its current level of 14,000 megawatts

Add additional gas-fired generation for use in peak periods.

LEARN MORE

Learn more about the government's 20-year energy plan and nuclear renewal process.

Please visit www.energy.gov.on.ca/nuclear .