An environmental assessment is in the works
By Shawn Jeffords from www.theobserver.ca The Observer
Ontario’s Energy Minister says an environmental assessment to prepare the Lambton Generating Station to burning biomass or natural gas is “imminent.”
Brad Duguid told The Observer Monday the province wants to be prepared to convert the coal-fired station to an alternative fuel should some of its energy plan fall through. To this point, conversion has been discussed but little action has been taken at Lambton.
An environmental assessment does not mean conversion will happen or that hundreds of good-paying jobs at LGS will be saved, Duguid cautioned.
“What it does do is indicate that we’re serious about ensuring that we have (LGS) there as a backup and there remains hope in that community that a form of energy generation is continuing to take place.”
Lambton Generating Station is slated to close in 2014 when the rest of the province’s coal stations are shuttered. The government will have a better idea by 2012 if conversion at Lambton or Nanticoke stations is needed, he said.
“Right now, it’s a very valuable asset as a back-up that may be called into action,” he said.
The province has applied to the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission to extend the life of its reactor in Pickering. If that bid is denied, Lambton could get the nod, Duguid said.
Officials at Ontario Power Generation are preparing an environment assessment for LGS, he said.
Andrew Block, an aid to the minister, later called to clarify that OPG is running a feasibility study on converting Lambton to natural gas, which would roll into the environment assessment. Public consultations could be held this fall.
Block added an EA of biomass conversion at LGS is not currently underway, but could also be undertaken later this year.
Duguid made it clear the coal phase-out is still on track. The province announced last week it has cut it’s coal use by 90% since 2003 and improved air quality in the province as a result.
He called the coal phase-out the “single most significant climate change intuitive in North America.
“It hasn’t been easy, we never anticipated it would be. There’s a reason why, in all likelihood, we’re the first jurisdiction in the world to have achieved this.”
Duguid said he’s aware the community will lose jobs if the station closes, but OPG is working with the energy workers union. At the same time, green energy jobs are being created, he added.
“Last year alone we created 13,000 new jobs. Many of those jobs are going into southwest Ontario and the Sarnia area.”
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