A new report says that, as the modern economy moves toward more reliance on artificial intelligence, the energy needed to sustain growth should come from nuclear energy.
The message was front and centre at the Empire Club of Canada, where Evan Solomon, Federal Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, spoke Friday on “The Urgent Mission to Make Canada AI and Quantum Strong.”
Ahead of his remarks, Nuclear Innovation Institute Chair James Scongack underscored the link between Canada’s digital economy and its energy grid.
“If Canada wants to attract and sustain investment in data centres, nuclear must be part of the conversation,” said Scongack, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Bruce Power. “It’s how we can guarantee clean, reliable power while keeping data - and the economic value it represents - on Canadian soil.”
NII’s research stresses that data centres need a specific kind of power: clean, reliable, affordable, and made-in-Canada. With geopolitical uncertainty rising, the report notes that energy independence and data sovereignty go hand in hand. Ontario’s nuclear stations already supply more than half of the province’s carbon-free electricity, giving Canada a competitive edge to host major data centres on a grid that is both clean and dependable.
The institute cautions that the sheer amount of energy required by large-scale digital infrastructure cannot be met by carbon-emitting sources. While renewables remain a critical part of the mix, they lack the 24/7 reliability needed to support the nonstop operations of data hubs. Nuclear, by contrast, offers the scale and consistency necessary to anchor Canada’s digital future.
Jessica Linthorne, NII President and CEO, pointed to Bruce, Grey, and Huron counties as a prime location for investment.
“Here at home, the Clean Energy Frontier region of Bruce, Grey and Huron counties offer the right mix of assets to support Canada’s AI advantage: baseload nuclear power, high-capacity transmission lines, access to skilled labour from existing clean energy projects, and innovation-ready communities,” she said.
According to the NII, the Clean Energy Frontier region stands out because it delivers reliable 24/7 power, has the infrastructure to integrate new data centres, protects Canada’s data sovereignty by keeping information on domestic soil, and lowers costs by leveraging existing nuclear facilities.
Together, these strengths position the region - anchored by Bruce Power - as a secure, cost-effective hub for Canada’s AI and digital economy.
More information is available at nii.ca.
