For Immediate Release:
November 24, 2010
Queens Park – A costly missed opportunity.
That’s how MPP Toby Barrett sums up the McGuinty Government’s long term energy plan announcement making way for the closure of two more coal-burning units at OPG Nanticoke by 2011.
“We have a wealth of experience and a dedicated work force in the making of electricity that this government is ignoring,” Barrett said. “Instead of doing the right thing, McGuinty is wasting some of our most important resources, jacking up electricity rates and flushing jobs down the drain.”
Barrett noted that at his recent Energy and our Environment symposium in Jarvis, a number of presentations highlighted the potential for energy production and employment through the “refuelling” of OPG Nanticoke by using biomass and/or natural gas.
“I do note that the McGuinty plan does call for ‘consideration to repowering Lambton and Nanticoke units with natural gas’ as well as, ‘Continuing to explore opportunities for co-firing biomass'” added Barrett. “And I am somewhat encouraged by a direction to, ‘commence studies for of pipeline routes to supply Nanticoke with natural gas’.”
“I encourage the Premier and Minister of Energy to visit OPG Nanticoke and then talk to fed-up ratepayers to truly understand the impact of their actions,” Barrett concluded. “We’ve been waiting seven years under the cloud of coal and job closures – it’s time for the Premier to provide clear direction as to how government will repower Nanticoke.”
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For more information, please contact MPP Toby Barrett at
(519) 428-0446 or (905)-765-8413, 1-800-903-8629