Waiting for staff report on generator

The following letter, addressed to King Township council, was submitted to the Sentinel for publication.

In late April, I attended a meeting of council where a motion by Councillor Cleve Mortelitti was being considered regarding the proposed gas-fired peaker generating plant. It was clear from this meeting that many people present were concerned about the possibility of this plant being built in King or for that matter anywhere in northern York Region.

However, Township staff recommended that council hold off on making a decision regarding the proposed generating plant until more information came forward. Township staff also clearly said for all who were present that a report would be coming forward to council before the end of June and at that time council could consider a position or response.

As of today, there is no evidence that a report is about to come forward for council to consider and the end of June is here. On such an important issue, I'm concerned that the Township continues to "wait." Once processes move along a fair way, I believe it can become more and more difficult to have any kind of significant influence over the outcome.

I notice in the newspapers that Northland Power has already launched an environmental screening process on two sites in King just south of the Holland Marsh agricultural area.

When will the staff report be coming forward? When will the Township be considering a response?

With the rising price of petroleum and natural gas, the inefficiency of the proposed plant (only 30 per cent of the energy would go to electricity production while the rest is lost in heat), the contribution to air pollution, and the availability of clean, renewable energy generating technology - solar and wind, I very much hope that this whole plan will be rethought and future energy needs will be met more responsibly.

Let's have King Township take a lead on the road to a cleaner, more energy-efficient future in the province of Ontario.

Thank you for your attention to my questions and comments.

Bruce Craig,

King City