Georgina
November 11, 2008 03:03 PM
John Slykhuis, Staff Writer
The controversial 350-megawatt electrical generating peaker plant won’t be built in Georgina.
The site on McCowan Road at Glenwoods Avenue by Pristine Power was not on the list of the six finalists released last week by the Ontario Power Authority.
While good news to MegaWHAT?, a community group organized to fight the authority bringing the plant to Georgina, the battle will continue at the other York Region sites that made the short list, president Brad Smith said.
MegaWHAT? now has representation in the other northern York Region municipalities.
Georgina council was the first to declare that it would be an unwilling host for the plant last April.
“This has never been about NIMBYism,” said Mr. Smith, who lives near the Georgina site. “It’s always been our opinion that no matter where it goes it’s going to affect us in some way.”
The MegaWHAT? groups are frustrated that Energy Minister George Smitherman has not responded to several calls for a meeting and that they have not been invited to participate in a mayors’ summit to be hosted later this month by King Mayor Margaret Black, Mr. Smith said.
“We’re trying to get into that meeting since the whole thing was instigated by MegaWHAT in the first place.”
The first mayors’ summit in Georgina was initiated by MegaWHAT? through Georgina council.
The meeting will include the mayors of northern York Region, the mayor of Bradford West Gwillimbury and Oak Ridges Markham MPP Helen Jaczek.
“That’s kind of odd because (Dr. Jaczek) doesn’t have any of the proposed plants in her riding,” Mr. Smith said.
He vowed to keep fighting.
“We’re not going to stop until this is over. We’re still working with organizations to work for better alternatives. They are out there for sure.”
It is not known if a late submission by the Chippewas of Georgina Island calling on the Ministry of Environment to “re-evaluate the forecast assumptions for this peaker plant before proceeding any further with this procurement” will be a factor.
The letter, signed by Chief Donna Big Canoe on behalf of the Chippewas, stated“... it would not be prudent to continue with this procurement process”.
The First Nation was not informed of the proposed OPA peaker plant project which “comes as a surprise to us” since its location is “within our traditional territory”, she added.
However, the letter was sent to a consulant working for the Pristine Power project in Georgina, not now on the list of finalists. A copy was not sent to the OPA.
The Chippewas are working with Windfall Ecology Centre to develop a 20-megawatt turbine wind farm on the island with a possible additional 100 megawatts planned in future, however, the power authority has proposed limiting renewable energy projects such as the Chippewas’ to just 10 megawatts.
The six short-listed sites are: 1611 Holborn Rd. (Northland Power) and 48 Sluse Rd. (SG Northern York Power ULC) in East Gwillimbury, 18156 Dufferin St. and 1170 Miller Rd. (Northland Power) and 18781 Dufferin St. (York Energy Centre LP) in King and 2214 Ninth Line in Bradford West Gwillimbury (TransCanada Energy Ltd.).