Government of Canada Provides Early Decision on Riverside Generating Station Project in Ontario

OTTAWA, ON, January 16, 2026 /CNW/ - The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) assessed the Riverside Generating Station Project, a new power generating facility fueled by natural gas, located 16 kilometres south of Sarnia in St. Clair Township, in Ontario, and determined that its potential adverse effects within federal jurisdiction would be limited or addressed through other means.

To arrive at its section 16 decision under the Impact Assessment Act (IAA), IAAC engaged other jurisdictions, federal experts, stakeholders, the public, and Indigenous Peoples to review the project description and identify potential impacts within federal jurisdiction and frameworks to address these potential impacts.

IAAC is of the view that the potential adverse effects within federal jurisdiction would be limited or addressed through existing federal and provincial laws and regulations. This includes but is not limited to the Fisheries Act, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, 1994, the Species at Risk Act, the Canadian Navigable Waters Act, the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act, the Ontario Water Resources Act, the Ontario Environmental Protection Act, and the Ontario Heritage Act.

As a result, the impact assessment process is now complete. As a next step, the proponent will be required to seek any necessary provincial and federal authorizations and permits.

The documents and list of factors considered can be found in IAAC's Notice of Early Decision with Reasons.

Quick Facts

• Atura Power is proposing the construction, operation, and decommissioning of a new power-generating facility fueled by natural gas, located about 16 kilometers south of Sarnia in St. Clair Township, Ontario. As proposed, the Riverside Generating Station Project would include a combustion turbine generator system with a production capacity of about 500 megawatts, a 230-kilovolt overhead transmission connection, natural gas infrastructure, and water and wastewater infrastructure. The project is expected to be in operation for at least 20 years
• The review process from start to finish took 59 days to complete.
• IAAC facilitates the sustainable development of major projects subject to the IAA through open and efficient assessments. These assessments identify ways to ensure the environment and Indigenous Rights are protected as projects get built. To support needed investment in major projects, we work closely with other jurisdictions to achieve the goal of "one project, one review".
• Decisions like these ensure that Canada's impact assessment process is efficient by determining at an early stage whether further assessment under the IAA is required.

Associated Links

• Riverside Generating Station Project
• Impact Assessment Process Overview (Impact Assessment Agency of Canada)
• Canada's impact assessment system (Impact Assessment Agency of Canada)

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SOURCE Impact Assessment Agency of Canada

Contacts: Media Relations, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, [email protected]