Port Hope explores plasma arc facility

PORT HOPE, ONTARIO - A Port Hope representative will attend upcoming meetings in the Durham Region to learn more about Durham-York plans for an energy-from-waste facility.

The idea to send a representative was suggested by Councillor John Morand.

Councillors voted in favour of sending planning director Ron Warne to the upcoming public meetings.

The intent is to determine whether Port Hope could bring a plasma arc gasification facility to the municipality, Coun. Morand said after the meeting.

Such a facility would create electricity fueled by household waste. "I hope to see whether there is an opportunity for Wesleyville to be considered as a site," he said. The municipality should leap into action to see if the community is interested in the opportunity, Coun. Morand said.

According to the Gasification Technologies Council, plasma-arc gasification is a process where intense heat is used to convert carbon-containing materials into synthesis gas composed primarily of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The after product can be used as fuel to generate electricity or steam.

However, there is no guarantee the thermal treatment of waste system selected will be plasma arc gasification, CAO Carl Cannon stated in a memo. The selected approach may be a more conventional incineration system, such as single stage mass burn or two stage incineration.

Once more detail is known, there may be environmental and social impacts from the operation the community may find unacceptable, Mr. Cannon stated.

Positive economic spin-offs include the creation of related business and possible waste-hosting revenues for the municipality, he stated. Proximity to the power grid, Hwy. 401 and rail makes Wesleyville an ideal site for an energy-from-waste operation, Coun. Morand said.

According to Mr. Cannon's memo, potential sites within Durham or York are preferred by the participating municipalities, but other regions, such as Port Hope, are not excluded.

The Wesleyville Ontario Power Generation property meets many of the identified site criteria, according to the memo.

Council supported the plasma arc waste gasification process in principle, at a June 2005 meeting, according to the memo.

Port Hope resident and energy-from-waste advocate, Carroll Nichols, applauded council's decision to send a representative to the meetings.

"John Morand has shown a keen interest in looking at the possibilities of plasma arc gasification," he told council. "I appreciated working with him and working on getting this proposal off the ground."

He asked council be diligent in pursuing a plasma arc gasification facility.

In June it became Durham Regional Council's official position that thermal treatment of waste and recovery of energy is the preferred way to manage garbage, according to Durham municipal documents. Durham and York regions are conducting a joint-study to determine how to deal with waste, which is currently transported across the border and into Michigan.

Port Hope council supported the plasma arc gasification process and it's potential "in principle" in June 2005.

An oil-fired plant was built on the Wesleyville site during the 1970's. However, the project was halted and the plant has not produced any power whatsoever. OPG currently owns the majority of land at the Wesleyville.