Last night Loyalist Township Council refused to support Kingston CoGen’s proposal to build a new 100-megawatt (MW) gas-fired power plant in Bath, Ontario.
A special shout out to Aric McBay of the Providence Centre who, along with more than 50 local citizens, made it clear to council that local citizens did not want another dirty gas plant in their backyard. And a shout out as well to Deputy Mayor Nathan Townend and Councillors Paul Proderick and Jake Ennis who made it clear that they did not want to see more use of fossil fuels for power generation in their community.
Loyalist Council also heard deputations from two senior officials of Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator, Chuck Farmer and Simon Chapelle, who falsely claimedthat new gas-fired power plants are essential to maintain system reliability. This claim flies in the face of the fact that Ontario already has 10,470 MW of gas generation, which is equal to almost 50% of the province’s total peak hour electricity demand on hot summer days.
Tonight at 7 p.m., the Greater Napanee Town Council will be voting on Ontario Power Generation’s request – that comes with a $4.8 million inducement – for support for its proposal to build a third large, polluting gas-fired power plant in Napanee. According to Ontario’s Energy Minister Todd Smith, municipal support resolutions are a prerequisite for building new gas plants.
To watch or attend tonight’s Greater Napanee Town Council, or to send a letter or call Councillors, please click here.