Group urges Lambton Generating Station to switch to natural gas

Sarnia Observer
May 16, 2008
Cathy Dobson

Group urges Lambton Generating Station to switch to natural gas

The Ontario Clean Air Alliance is urging Energy Minister Gerry Phillips to convert at least one unit at Lambton Generating Station from coal to natural gas and keep it open beyond 2014.

“The capital cost of converting one of those boilers is 80 per cent lower than building a new boiler,” said Jack Gibbons, spokesman with the OCAA.

His agency sent a report to the minister’s office Monday that attacks a plan to build a new natural gas power plant for the Northern York Region, an area that encompasses seven municipalities including Aurora, King City and New Market.

“The proposed plant is too big, too costly and too polluting,” Gibbons said. “The province wants to use simple cycle gas fired technology which is the least efficient.”

A better alternative is build a smaller plant for Northern York Region and convert existing boilers in Lambton for peak periods, he said.

“After coal generation stops in 2014, Ontario will need additional peak generation.

“It can be supplied at a much lower cost by converting one or more of the four 500 megawatt boilers at LGS,” the report says.

The conversion would also save at least some of LGS’s 400 jobs, Gibbons added.

“So far, the natural gas concept at LGS has been rejected,” he said. “But we believe they are overlooking one of their least expensive options.”

Gibbons said LGS already has the necessary infrastructure including a high-pressure gas pipeline, to accommodate natural gas.

“Natural gas is a much cleaner fuel than coal and the emissions will be reduced. If we can save some jobs at LGS, the government should look at it.”

In January, Phillips told the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) to work with the private sector on a 350 to 400 megawatt natural gas-fired power plant to meet electricity needs in Northern York Region.

John Earl, a spokesman for the Lambton Generating Station, said any decisions related to conversion are up to the Ontario Power Authority.

“What we do is continue to operate a coal-fired plant until the OPA directs us otherwise,” Earl said.