Jun 03, 2008 - 10:29 AM

By Jennifer Stone

DURHAM -- News of GM's plant closure has some worried about Durham's economic future but it should be remembered that the auto industry isn't the only game in town, says the executive director of the Durham Strategic Energy Alliance.

In fact, the energy industry is responsible for upwards of 15,000 jobs in the region, Doug Lindeblom said Tuesday.

"Days like today, it's important for everybody to know that we have a very broadly based economy and a lot of opportunity," Mr. Lindeblom said. "That's not to say GM's announcement isn't significant, but we do have a broad-based economy here in Durham Region."

Over the past 40 years, since Pickering Nuclear Generating Station first located here, the energy industry has quietly become one of the major employers locally, said a 2006 study on Durham' Energy Cluster. The study used information from an array of groups, including the Region, Ontario Power Generation and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.

"Over the past 40 years, a vibrant energy cluster formed organically in Durham," said the report. "From the establishment of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station in 1965, community and industry participation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) initiative, through to the 2003 launch of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and the 2005 formation of the Durham Strategic Energy Alliance, energy-related industrial activity has grown steadily in Durham, making it Ontario's premiere energy industry cluster."

At the time of the study, between 11,000 and 12,000 jobs, not including spin-off positions in the retail sector, were directly related to the energy industry. â?¨ "Since that time, other companies have located in Durham Region," some in anticipation of refurbishment of reactors at Pickering and potential new nuclear reactors at Darlington, Mr. Lindeblom said. That's increased the number of energy-related jobs to somewhere between 12,000 and 15,000, he estimated.

New nuclear reactors at Darlington, should the Province decide to build them here, could further drive that growth.

As part of its ongoing environmental assessment into building new nukes at Darlington, Ontario Power Generation is completing an economic assessment of the potential benefit to the community. Exact numbers aren't known, but Atomic Energy of Canada Limited estimates that, if the Province went with its reactors about 2,500 construction workers would be needed.

Beyond construction, good-paying jobs would remain, Clarington Mayor Jim Abernethy said Monday.

Even if Clarington was the eventual recipient of new nuclear reactors, it would likely be 2010 before construction would begin in earnest, he said.

"However, between now and then, there would be a significant economic impact on our community and the rest of Durham Region," he said. "Before they put a shovel in the ground, there would be an awful lot of preparation."

And given the news out of GM, that could help, Mayor Abernethy said.

"Even though (potential construction at Darlington) is a long way away, it could help fill whatever void might be created with some of the lost jobs we've experienced in our community," he said.

For pullout box:

OPG, by the numbers

Driving Durham's energy industry has been the nuclear generating facilities run by Ontario Power Generation, which employ about half of those who work in the energy sector.

Darlington: ~ 2,500 employees

Pickering: ~ 5,200 employees