The truth hurts

April 24, 2008

The truth hurts

The Ontario Clean Air Alliance (OCAA) has been strongly opposing a proposal to build a large and inefficient new power plant in Northern York Region (NYR).  Sometimes the truth – that this proposed plant is too big, too costly and too polluting – hurts, judging by the reaction of the Association of Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO).

APPrO recently sent a letter to the Mayor of Aurora, which was forwarded to the OCAA with further comments by Jan Carr, the CEO of the Ontario Power Authority.   Both letters support the need for a large new power plant in NYR, and claim to “correct” OCAA information.  Unfortunately --  especially in the case of the letter from Mr. Carr, representing Ontario’s lead energy planning agency -- both letters are in need of substantial correction themselves.  They rely on outdated and unreliable information about electricity demand growth in NYR; make claims about the transmission system in the area that fail to provide the full picture; and misinterpret the conclusions reached by the Northern York Region Working Group, among other errors.

But you can judge for yourself – we have posted the APPrO and OPA letters as well as the OCAA’s response on our website at www.cleanairalliance.org/nyr.  Read the letters and ask yourself this: Who is really working to bring Ontario’s electricity system into the 21^st century in a way that truly addresses the climate and air quality impact of electricity generation?  Who is really supporting the development of a conservation culture in Ontario?  And who is just interested in maintaining the status quo?

Please pass this message on to your friends.

Thank you.

Jessica Fracassi, Communications & Membership Director
Ontario Clean Air Alliance
402-625 Church St, Toronto M4Y 2G1
Phone: 416-926-1907 ext. 245
Fax: 416-926-1601
Email: jessica@cleanairalliance.org
Website: www.cleanairalliance.org