For Immediate Release
February 7, 2006

Yakabuski and Barrett support Nanticoke, oppose Government driven closure

Nanticoke – Opposition Energy critic John Yakabuski and Agriculture critic Toby Barrett toured the Nanticoke Generating Station this morning in advance of public hearings to take place in the Town of Simcoe this afternoon.

The MPP’s were on tour to take a closer look at the facility and to see for themselves the systems that have been put into place that have helped the plant significantly reduce its emission outputs. Just months ago the plant reported that 2004 air emissions were twenty-nine percent lower than in 2003. In addition to this their total regulated air emissions were reported to be as low they were in the mid 1990’s, and among the lowest in Nanticoke’s history.

Despite these and many other noteworthy gains the McGuinty government has not backed down on its plan to close the Nanticoke facility by 2009. Unwilling to even review evidence that supports the implementation of clean-coal technology, that would further reduce emissions at Ontario’s coal fired plants, the government is set on their targeted deadline.

Both Yakabuski and Barrett have been very vocal about their opposition to this plan and commented that Nanticoke’s closure is not in the best interests of the community or the province as a whole. “The McGuinty government is dead set on the Nanticoke closure and yet, has not identified where it will get the supply it needs to keep the lights on in Ontario, once our coal fired plants are closed permanently,” Yakabuski said. “This is a dangerous for Ontario and an ill conceived plan on the part of this government who clearly from day one has not had a strategy for energy in our province.”

MPP Barrett shared other concerns about the plant’s closure, noting that it will be a significant loss to the area communities and those whose future employment depends upon the continued operation of Nanticoke.

“Make no mistake, coal closure will cost this province, and our local communities, dearly – our area receives $4.1 million a year through Nanticoke’s investment in goods and services,” Mr. Barrett said. “Haldimand County stands to loose $2.8 million dollars in property taxes.”

Both MPP’s sat in on public hearings this afternoon to hear what local groups had to say about Bill 21 which deals largely with the implementation of smart meters in Ontario. The government claims that smart meters will encourage a culture of conservation; however, the MPP’s noted that the closure of the coal fired plants will lead to an insufficient energy supply and that conservation will be the least of our worries if we experience blackouts.

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For more information please contact John Yakabuski at (613) 639-3005 or Toby Barrett at (519) 428-0446.