Halton Hills, Ontario power plant expansion faces environmental pushback

Environmental groups in Ontario are urging Halton Hills council to reject Atura Power’s proposal to expand a local power plant. Representatives from organizations including the Ontario Clean Air Alliance and the Environmental Protection Agency attended a recent council meeting to express their concerns about adding new turbines to the facility.

Atura Power aims to launch a turbine capable of generating up to 265 megawatts of electricity, initially using natural gas and possibly transitioning to hydrogen in the future. The company has allocated a budget of $400 million for the expansion project.

Although final approval ultimately rests with the province, the city must agree. Halton Hill Council is expected to debate and discuss the proposal at its next meeting on December 11.

Brad Kyte, senior business development manager at Atura, presented the case for expansion to board members. He stressed that the Atura power station’s power generation, as a back-up source of wind and solar energy, is crucial to ensuring the reliability of the grid during periods of high demand. Additionally, Kyte outlined the company’s plans to add hydrogen to local power stations starting in early 2025. The initial phase will involve mixing up to 15% hydrogen with natural gas, which could reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The greenhouse effect can be reduced by up to 23,000 tons per year.

Jack Gibbons of the Ontario Clean Air Alliance questions the need for new natural gas plants and advocates for greater investment in wind and solar energy. Other speakers at the meeting echoed those sentiments, urging council members to reject Atura’s plan and move toward renewable energy sources such as water, solar and wind.

Concerns about the environmental impact of gas-fired power plants were one of the main topics discussed at the meeting. Keith Brooks of the Environmental Protection Agency identified fossil fuels as a major driver of climate change, while Dr. Milly Roy of the Canadian Association of Environmental Physicians highlighted the health impacts of air pollution. He explained that air pollution can lead to a variety of health problems, including asthma, bronchitis, heart disease, stroke and cancer.

City Council members highlighted the city’s goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Mayor Ann Lawlor questioned how Atura Power plans to offset potential increases in emissions from the expansion proposal. In response, Brad Kettle said he believed their operations had a significant positive impact globally, although he acknowledged they must consider addressing concerns about pollution.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. What is Atura Power’s expansion proposal?
Atura Power is seeking approval to add a new turbine to its local power plant in Halton Hills, with a generating capacity of up to 265 megawatts. Initially, the turbines will run on natural gas, with the possibility of transitioning to hydrogen in the future.

2. What concerns have environmental groups raised?
Environmental groups are concerned about the potential impact of the expansion on the environment. They argue that investing in wind and solar power would be a cleaner, more cost-effective alternative to gas-fired power plants.

3. What impact does air pollution have on health?
Dr. Milly Roy of the Canadian Association of Environmental Physicians noted that air pollution can cause many health problems, including asthma, bronchitis, heart disease, stroke and cancer.

4. What are Halton Hills Council’s greenhouse gas emissions targets?
Halton Hills Council aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. Mayor Ann Lawlor expressed concern about the increased emissions the proposed expansion could cause and questioned how Atura Power planned to address the issue.

For more information about Atura Power’s proposal, please visit its website ataturapower.com/haltonexpansion.