A public meeting with Eastern Power Ltd., the company that's building it, is slated for this Thursday, and opponents are vowing to turn out in force even though the meeting room planned for it is limited to 50 people.
"Even if it's the evening before the long weekend," leader Greg Rohn says, "we'll have a lot of people there."
May 31, 2011 – Oakville, ON – C4CA today called on the Ontario Government to hold Third Reading of Bill 8, The Separation Distances for Natural Gas Power Plants Act, 2010, this week. The Private Members Bill, which prohibits the construction of a natural gas power plant within 1,500 metres of land zoned residential or for a school, day nursery or health care facility, was introduced by Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn and passed second reading in April of 2010 with support from all parties.
"Safety risks related to natural gas fired power plants can be mitigated but never eliminated," says C4CA Board Chair, Frank Clegg. "Accidents happen and can be catastrophic, as was the case last year in Middletown, CT when a natural gas power plant exploded killing six people and blowing out windows three kilometres away. The best way to ensure the community is protected is through buffer zones. Bill 8 will expire at the end of this week. We're calling on all Parties to support Bill 8, see it through and get it passed before the end of the week."
From Oakville Beaver (David Lea) - March 3, 2011
The Town of Oakville announced Thursday that it has received $493,100 in compensation from TransCanada for legal costs the Town incurred during its fight against the energy company's proposed 900-megawatt gas-fired power plant.
Town Solicitor Douglas Carr said TransCanada initiated four legal actions against the Town, attacking the various bylaws the Town put in place, which blocked the power plant from being established on the Ford-owned lands of 1500 Royal Windsor Dr.
The proposed power plant location generated considerable controversy and public outcry as it was placed within 400 metres of the closest residential areas giving rise to concerns about health and safety impacts.
The Town of Oakville will be holding several workshops in the near future to help local industry comply with the Town's Health Protection Air Quality Bylaw. The workshops, which will be held on Thursday, March 31 and April 14, will review the emission-reporting process to ensure compliance with Section 4 of the Town's bylaw.
Under the bylaw, all facilities that fit under Section 4, including all facilities with provincial Certificates of Approval for air emissions and major emitters, are required to submit a report to the Town on their fine particulate matter and health-risk air pollution emissions by May 1, 2011.
Oakville, January 18, 2011 - For immediate release
Last night, Town Council unanimously passed a motion from Mayor Rob Burton calling upon the Province of Ontario to nominate the Oakville-Clarkson airshed as the first pilot area to implement a Comprehensive Air Management System (CAMS). This new approach to regionally coordinated airshed management was announced by the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) on October 20, 2010, as part of a national commitment to introduce more ambitious air quality standards and nationally consistent industrial emissions.
Excerpt - Oakville.ca
Facility reporting and approval process deadlines revised
Oakville, January 5, 2011 - for immediate release
Town Council unanimously passed an amendment to the Health Protection Air Quality By-law 2010-035 at its December 20, 2010 meeting. This amendment revises the implementation schedule for the reporting of emissions by facilities and approval process.
Excerpt "OAKVILLE BEAVER - Town council voted Monday to amend its Health Protection Air Quality Bylaw and give affected businesses more time to prepare for its impact."
For the full article, click here.
Locating one of the most powerful Gas Fired Power Plants in Canada near the centre of the Town of Oakville and close to the City of Mississauga should be a concern for all Canadians.
It is unlikely that such a site would be approved anywhere in North America.
Excerpt: "A report commissioned by Premier Dalton McGuinty concerning air quality in the Oakville-Clarkson airshed (OCA) has found that the air quality is “taxed” and no new major sources of pollution should be allowed unless there is a corresponding plan to offset the key air contaminants." Click here to read more.