Oakville temporarily blocks gas-fired plant

Oakville Power Plant Bylaw halts construction over 10 megawatts pending environmental impact study, land use review, and air quality assessment, amid resident protests; Ford Motor Co. and TransCanada appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board.

Oakville has temporarily blocked construction of a 900-megwatt gas-fired power plant that is opposed by the town and a coalition of citizen groups.

Council had earlier passed an interim control bylaw prohibiting building any power plant of 10 or more megawatts pending the outcome of an impact study. That was appealed by Ford Motor Co. and TransCanada Energy to the town’s committee of adjustment.

Ford owns the land and TransCanada has been chosen by the province to build and operate the Oakville power plant on Royal Windsor Dr.

The committee turned down the application, meaning no construction can take place until the interim control bylaw expires or if the proponents successfully appeal the decision to the Ontario Municipal Board.

The bylaw is due to expire on March 31, but council has the authority to extend it for up to one more year.

Earlier, the province named potential GTA sites for the project.

The decision is good news for residents, Mayor Rob Burton said.

The bylaw was passed “to fully study and address the potential environmental, land use, air quality and public safety impacts any proposed power plant could have on our town,” Burton said, amid controversy such as the Holland Marsh plant coming under fire.

TransCanada officials were not immediately available for comment.

About 500 residents rallied at Queen’s Park on February 24 to protest the province’s decision, which had already been given the green light, to build a power plant in an area they say is already stressed with air pollution.

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