As part of the Liberals’ new climate change plan, Premier Dalton McGuinty has vowed to close the province’s four remaining coal-burning stations by Dec. 31, 2014.
But specifically for the sake of the plants in Atikokan and Thunder Bay, the Town of Fort Frances will be sending a letter to the province opposing the Coal Closure Regulation, which currently is in the consultation phase.
Council was made aware of the proposed closures at Monday night’s regular meeting and opted to throw its support behind the regional coal-fired stations before the public review period elapses Aug. 11.
“There’s currently a notice in the Environmental Bill Registry, a regulatory change that if approved will shut down every coal plant in Ontario no later than 2014,” Coun. Tannis Drysdale said Monday evening.
“This is cause for great concern to the folks in Atikokan,” she added. “[And] there are financial implications for Fort Frances, as well as other implications as far as the energy grid itself.”
Coun. Drysdale said the Township of Atikokan is requesting that anyone with concerns about this regulatory change, which won’t go through legislation but simply come into effect as a regulation, should visit Atikokan’s website at www.atikokan.ca and voice their opinions through a link there.
Comments must be sent to the Ministry of Energy prior to Aug. 11.
“This is going through under regulation, which means we’re not going to hear a lot about it,” said Coun. Andrew Hallikas. “And it’s something that very much affects our economy, not just Atikokan’s.
“The Atikokan coal plant is one of the cleanest in North America and I think for the government to shut it down, and all of the other ones as well, without having to replace them, is basically irresponsible.
“I think we should encourage people to get on board and support Atikokan,” he added.
“I concur,” said Mayor Roy Avis.
Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown noted Thunder Bay’s coal plant is in the same boat as Atikokan, and also should be of concern to Fort Frances.
Coun. Sharon Tibbs noted the province “can’t paint everyone with the same brush” when it comes to clamping down on polluters, pointing out the plants in Atikokan and Thunder Bay only account for 7/10th of one percent of the air pollution in Ontario.
Air coming into southern Ontario from the United States accounts for about 50 percent of the pollution in that area.
As well, an estimated 43 percent of the air pollution in Ontario is caused by transportation while the four coal-fired plants operating in the province result in about only six percent of those emissions.
“There’s never been an economic-based analysis of the impact of the shutting down of coal plants in Ontario. Coun. Tibbs’ information is spot on,” said Fort Frances CAO Mark McCaig.
“The impact from the vehicle traffic alone in the greater Toronto area makes Atikokan’s impact a blip on the radar,” he added.
“If there is a prominence of smog pollution in the greater Toronto area, it comes from our neighbours in the south, where there’s lot of coal-fired generation.
“If you’re going to embrace Kyoto, you should probably do it in accordance with our neighbour or else you’re tilting at windmills.”
Council passed a resolution Monday night to have administration draft a letter to the province, protesting the possible closures and encouraging the government to move toward clean coal technologies instead.
(Fort Frances Times)
Fort Frances Times
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