Small turnout Monday night at OPA information session
By Bill Rea

The Ontario Power Authority hosted a public information centre Monday night in King City, but they didn't have many people to distribute information too.

One a couple of people signed in.

OPA is behind the proposal to establish a natural gas fired peaking generating plant to service electricity needs in northern York Region.

Several sites have been proposed for this facility, including two in King being eyed by Northland Power in the area of the Holland Marsh, and another site being proposed by Pristine Power Inc., just south of Ansnorveldt.

Monday's was the third such session held in King City in approximately the last month, and the crowds were somewhat better at the earlier ones.

Jerry Crown, of the OPA communications department, said they were rather busy at the first one, held late in August.

"It was an opportunity for people to gather information," added John Jeza, director of channel development, conservation and sector development of OPA.

He also pointed out there is still information available on OPA's Web site, www.powerauthority.on.ca

"It's not a number's game," Crown remarked.

He said they've had some very useful conversations with a few people at other sessions.

Councillor Jeff Laidlaw was one of the few who was out Monday night, and while he didn't seem too pleased with what he heard, he understood the reasons behind the effort.

"Their mandate is to try and get this damned peaker power plant built," he observed.

"They're doing what they need to do," he said.

The information provided at the session was largely aimed at justifying the decision to put build this proposed facility.

It was based on the fact that York Region's population is roughly five times what it was in 1971 (when the Region was formed).

But power to the northern area is still provided by one high-voltage transmission line.

"In effect, northern York Region is connected to the rest of the province by one old and long extension cord," stated one of the information boards that was set up.

It was also stated the OPA solution for northern York has three elements.

One of them is conservation, and local distribution companies have collaborated with business and resident users in that regard.

More than 15 megawatts have been saved in the area so far, and the goal is to have that figure to 27 by 2010.

Jeza said that's an important part of the effort, adding there's plenty of ways and incentives for people to get involved and achieve the target.

"We're right on track to meet that," he said.

"However, if we get more, that's better."

Another element involves distribution and transformers. Jeza said the new Holland Junction Transformer station in King should be operating by next summer.

The final element is local generation, which would remove the need for new lines running into the area.

The points made included that a gas-fired plant would help replace coal-fired generator.

Thus assist in eliminating greenhouse gases.

It would also help supplement intermittent wind and solar generation.

OPA added people in various York communities rejected the idea of more transmission lines in 2005. As well, such lines would require a lot more land and impact many more property owners than a generating station.

OPA is planning to name which proposal has been accepted around the end of the year.