About the Project

To help meet the provinces growing need for reliable and efficient electricity, the St. Clair Energy Centre is proposing modernization upgrades and an expansion of the facility. The upgrades and expansion would add up to an additional 180 megawatts (MW) of electricity generation capacity and be completed as two separate projects.

Project 1 - Upgrade of St. Clair Energy Centre

Upgrading the facility involves increasing plant capacity through process improvements and equipment upgrades. This will require no physical expansion of the plant footprint and will add approximately 60 MWs of generating capacity.

Project 2 - Expansion of St. Clair Energy Centre

Expansion of the facility involves the addition of a new gas turbine(s), or reciprocating engines, to achieve approximately 100-120 MWs of additional generating capacity. This would require the expansion of the plant footprint and other upgrades to infrastructure.

Environmental Approvals

Ontario Regulation 116/01 (Electricity Projects Regulation) requires that an Environmental Review Report (ERR) be prepared for proposed upgrades and expansions of existing energy facilities.

St. Clair Energy Centre began this permitting and approval process in 2022 and will conduct archaeological studies, as well as public and Indigenous engagement activities that will be incorporated into the project ERR.

The ERR will also identify applicable authorizations, notifications, permits or approvals, environmental effects of the project, and mitigation measures to be implemented. The St. Clair Energy Centre is planning to submit permits to agencies and anticipate approval of the Project in late 2023 or early 2024.

The overall environmental assessment process and opportunities for consultation and engagement activities are outlined in the EA Process and Consultation Flow Chart.