Power plant protesters want FordÂ’s support

subscribe

Residents opposing a gas-fired electricity plant want Ford Canada to support their demands for an independent environmental review of its former land.

More than 500 peaceful protest marchers alleged the planned 900-megawatt plant on 5.25 hectares of land that Ford sold last year could pose safety and pollution hazards.

There are 11,000 homes and 16 schools within three kilometres of the site southeast of the sprawling facility along the QEW, Citizens For Clean Air C4CA organizers said in a letter to company president David Mondragon.

It said Ontario laws “ironically... would restrict a wind power plant from being built at the same unique location.”

Protest signs read: “Stop power plants near homes and schools” and “What if an explosion happened?”

The crowd demanded Premier Dalton McGuinty approve an independent assessment instead of one being conducted by the builder, TransCanada Energy Ltd.

The Calgary firmÂ’s website says it would invest $1.2 billion in the Oakville Generating Station, and that it would be clean, highly efficient and designed to meet or exceed all regulatory environmental requirements.

The target date for opening is February 2014.

The proposed plant was one of four approved by Ontario Power Corporation, C4CA chairman Frank Clegg said.

The others, including one at Milton-Halton Hills slated to open this fall, have few homes nearby, Clegg said.

He insisted his group, which claims 20,000 members, isnÂ’t trying to halt the plant and would approve it pending an independent review.

Ground was to be broken this month but plans were delayed for an environmental report.

“Ford won’t talk to us,” Clegg said, adding Trans-Canada hasn’t adequately answered protesters’ concerns.

But Ford communications vice-president Lauren More told the Sun she had “several conversations” with a C4CA committee member.

More, who accepted their letter, promised the company would “consider it carefully.”

“The Ontario government made the decision to locate the power plant in Oakville,” she said.

She wouldnÂ’t comment on C4CA statements the land sold for $50 million.

Related News

Paying for electricity in India

Paying for electricity in India: Power theft can't be business as usual

NEW DELHI - India is among the world leaders in losing money to electricity theft. The country’s power sector also has a peculiar pattern of entities selling without getting the money on time, or nothing at all. Coal India is owed about Rs 12,300 crore by power generation companies, which themselves have not been paid over Rs 1 lakh crore by distribution companies. The figures of losses suffered by discoms are much higher. The circuit does get completed somehow, but the uneven transaction, which defies business sense, introduces a disruptive strand that limits the scope for any future planning. Regular…

READ MORE

Brazil tax strategy to bring down fuel, electricity prices seen having limited effects

READ MORE

drum fire

Failed PG&E power line blamed for Drum fire off Hwy 246 last June

READ MORE

nv benefits

New Mexico Could Reap $30 Billion Driving on Electricity

READ MORE

cairo at night

Egypt, Eni ink MoU on hydrogen production projects

READ MORE