For immediate release:
July 13, 2007

Have your say on McGuinty plan to ignore clean-air technology at Nanticoke
Government looking for input on blind-rush to close coal-plant

Port Dover – Haldimand-Norfolk-Brant MPP Toby Barrett is encouraging residents to tell the Ontario Government exactly what they think about the McGuinty plan to disregard the benefits of clean-air technology and eliminate the sole –fuel source for OPG Nanticoke.

The government has posted it’s directive to “ensure that coal is not used to generate electricity” at Nanticoke and three other coal-fired power stations on the Environmental Bill of Rights for a 30 day public review and comment period.

“This is an opportunity for all those who have been contacting my office to express support for investment into clean-air technology at Nanticoke to make their voices heard by those making decisions in Queens Park,” stated Barrett. “It’s high time that government hears from those they are impacting directly before making policy decisions that will cut power and jobs, while sending electricity rates skyward.”

Barrett added that a survey handed out to close to 150 attendees of a Jarvis energy symposium June 19th saw 88 per cent of respondents answer “yes” to the question, “Do you feel the Ontario Government should invest in clean-air technology and carbon capture at OPG Nanticoke?”

“The previous government did the heavy lifting by initiating a $250-million investment into Selective Catalytic Reduction Units at Nanticoke and Lambton, reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80 per cent,” Barrett asserted. “To ignore similar emission reduction technology in favour of an anti-coal crusade when alternatives are not in place seems ludicrous.”

Those wishing to provide input on the McGuinty coal closure directive can write to:

David Argue, Senior Policy Advisor
Ministry of the Environment - Air Policy and Climate Change Branch
135 St. Clair Avenue West - Floor 4
Toronto Ontario, M4V 1P5

Full details on the Environmental Registry regulation can be found at www.ebr.gov.on.ca under EBR registry number “010-0945”.

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For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at: (519) 428-0446 or 1-800-903-8629