Clean energy sector in Bruce, Grey and Huron contributed $4.03 billion to provincial GDP
The Clean Energy Frontier Program at the Nuclear Innovation Institute, in partnership with Bruce Power and Bruce County, is unrolling the findings of a regional economic impact study. The study provides a close look into the economic impact of the clean energy industry in Bruce, Grey and Huron counties and includes household spending, employment figures, gross domestic product (GDP) and tax contributions.
The clean energy work happening in the region—including Bruce Power’s Life Extension Program (the third largest infrastructure project in Canada, according to ReNew Canada)—contributed $4.03 billion to Ontario’s GDP in 2020, from direct, indirect and induced effects.
Also in 2020, the three counties combined saw $1.43 billion of household spending, as an outcome of the clean energy sector. The breakdown of this spend includes:
$70 million on clothes and accessories
$56 million in restaurants, and
$16 million in pet expenses.
Director of the Clean Energy Frontier Program and economic development professional Jessica Linthorne stated:
“It’s a great time to be an entrepreneur in the Clean Energy Frontier region. We are pleased to share this information with the public as well as with local municipalities and their economic development staff to help support the continued growth in our communities.”
Linthorne has been making delegations to county councils to share the good news. The first stops were to Bruce County on March 3 and Huron County on March 9, with Grey County coming up on April 14.
Bruce County Warden and Clean Energy Frontier Program Co-Chair Janice Jackson continues to express her support for the program and the opportunities presented by the clean energy sector.
“In addition to entrepreneurial and clean energy jobs, we’re seeing assessment growth from residential, commercial and industrial builds. More than $233 million was paid into municipal taxation because of the clean energy sector in 2020, and the vast majority of that is paid right here in the Bruce, Grey, Huron region,” said Warden Jackson.
She added: “Ongoing assessment growth supports municipal government in our journey to provide the best service and to support infrastructure needs across the region.”
Bruce Power, as a partner in the Clean Energy Frontier Program, also celebrates the growth and new investments in the region.
“This data will support conversations with investors and entrepreneurs who may be considering the Clean Energy Frontier region,” said John Peevers, Director, Community, Media Relations & Economic Development at Bruce Power and Co-Chair of the Clean Energy Frontier Program. He added:
“Bruce Power’s direct and indirect economic impact is almost as large as the entire motion picture film industry in Ontario, and larger than other major industries in the province. This certainly paints a clear picture of opportunity in the region.”
Learn more about the work of the Clean Energy Frontier Program at nii.ca/clean-energy-frontier and follow along on social media as results of the economic impact study continue to be rolled out. Find NII on Twitter (@OntarioNII), LinkedIn (Nuclear Innovation Institute) and Facebook (@OntarioNII).
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