Generating facility will not use a lot of water, OPA states
By Bill Rea

The electricity generating facility being planned for northern York Region is not going to be as bad as some people in the area fear.

Numerous concerns were raised at a recent public meeting, relating to excessively tall smoke stacks, as well as fears that a facility like this would use on the order of 40,000 gallons of water per day.

Not so, according to Brian Hay, director of communications with Ontario Power Authority (OPA), who declared that 40,000 gallons of water "is just not there."

Joanne Butler, vicepresident of electricity resources for OPA, commenting in a conference call Thursday said the facility will be air-cooled. "There will not be extensive water use," she declared.

She added the authority is still evaluating the responses to the requests for qualifications (RFQ) which closed late last month. That is to be followed by a short list of requests for proposals (RFP), including possible locations, as well as details in the next steps of the process, which is slated to be announced by the end of this month. She added that is when they will be able to announce the number of RFQs that were submitted.

Butler said the plan is to still have a proposal named by the end of this year, with the facility in operation by the end of 2011.

She also said there are confidentiality provisions in the RFQ process. "I can't speak to any specific proposal," she commented.

Hay added once the short list is announced, "it becomes a much more public process."

Shawn Cronkwright, manager of technological services with OPA, said the criteria dealt with in the RFQ process includes technical requirements that need to be satisfied, the development experience of the team involved and the financial backing of that team. On top of that, he said the facility will have to eventually exceed environmental regulations.

Hay added any developer anticipates being part of the community.

"This way, it maximizes the community acceptance," he said. "I think you're going to see some pretty responsive developers as we go into the RFP process."

Butler said the plan for establishing this facility started in 2005, involving a collaborative effort, including community working groups. It was agreed a peaking plant like the one planned would be best, forf meeting peak capacity, and addressing security of supply. "It's been a well thought-out process, spanning many years," she said.