Electricity- the plan continues to change

Over the years, I have outlined my vision for the Nanticoke power plant. This vision has been consistent, despite years of uncertainty caused by the rhetoric billowing from the current provincial government.

My vision will clean up our air, save the vital jobs provided by the Nanticoke plant, and help Ontario meet its power needs as demand increases in the province. I was proud when our former government invested $250 million in pollution abatement at Nanticoke and Lambton. My vision is to finish the job- installing Selective Catalytic Reduction Units (SCRs) on the remaining units at Nanticoke. This will ensure an affordable electricity supply, while going a long way to eliminate air pollution and smog.

In response to this vision, the McGuinty government has repeatedly insisted that such technology doesn’t exist, despite the fact that Lambton has been using it for years. That’s why I was surprised when the province sued an American coal-fired power plant, to force it to install clean-air technology.

We all remember the stream of promises about closing Nanticoke and the other coal-fired power plants. This past week, Energy Minister Dwight Duncan admitted what many of us already knew- the coal closure deadline was unattainable, and would not be met.

Thankfully, the jobs and electricity provided by the Nanticoke plant are safe- for now. But, area residents are waking up to reports that they might actually be hosting nuclear reactors as part of Premier McGuinty’s new energy agenda.

In light of the newest version of the McGuinty electricity plan, the Hamilton Spectator ran a headline saying “Nuclear plant may be built in Nanticoke.” But, the next day, the Simcoe Reformer reported that the provincial government was not planning on building a nuclear reactor in Nanticoke, and it still insists Nanticoke will eventually close.

Ever since the McGuinty government made its promise to close OPG Nanticoke, there have been rumours it could be slated for conversion to nuclear. In response, I initiated a petition, giving constituents the opportunity to have their voices heard on the topic. The response was overwhelmingly negative- It’s clear local residents don’t see the logic in spending billions of dollars to retrofit a well-functioning power plant.

It appears the province has changed its mind on its agenda for the Thunder Bay plant as well. Until recently, the McGuinty government was proceeding with a plan to convert that power plant to natural gas. During last Wednesday’s Question Period, Opposition Leader John Tory demanded answers on reports that the Province has abruptly cancelled the $30 million conversion project. Energy Minister Dwight Duncan refused to say who would pick up the tab, but all indications suggest it will be part of your electricity bill.

The confusion grew, this past Thursday, when it was reported the McGuinty government has unilaterally decided it would not be subject to a full environmental assessment for its nuclear plans. Nuclear energy does have an important role to play in Ontario’s electricity mix, but a full environmental assessment would go a long way to alleviate concerns about some of the negative aspects of nuclear energy.

I’ll keep fighting for common sense in the Province’s electricity future. We are winning the battle to keep Nanticoke open, but we must keep fighting for the cleanest air possible.