The Ontario Power Authority is once again dusting off its plan to open a gas-fired power plant next to the now mothballed Hearn Generating Station in the Port Lands. Councillor Paula Fletcher and local community groups are fighting this scheme arguing that there are more efficient ways to supply the same amount of energy to Toronto's core. A public meeting on the project will be held on February 7th. Here is their proposal:

When:             Tuesday, February 7th at 7:00 p.m.
 
Where:            SH Armstrong Recreation Centre
                      56 Woodfield Road, just north of Queen St.,
                      mid-way between Coxwell and Greenwood.

We propose the following 10 ideas to create more jobs, reduce energy bills, cut energy waste and reduce pollution.         
 

Cut energy use in existing government and non-government buildings in Toronto through energy efficiency programs delivered by governmental and non-governmental partnerships (170 MW).

Set much higher energy efficiency standards for new buildings to be built in Toronto and promote ground source heat pumps for new buildings (energy calculation unavailable). 

Invest in cutting household energy use through large scale low income housing energy retrofits. Develop a Toronto Hydro loan program for renewable and high efficiency residential investments (energy calculation unavailable).

   

Utilize the “Cool Cities” program developed in the United States that cuts summer heat in the city through tree plantings, green roofs and light coloured paving (energy calculation unavailable).

   

Invest in renewable energy projects, including community based projects,  to provide necessary power across the city including an appropriately-sited wind farm on Lake Ontario, solar hot water, solar heating and solar electricity (60 MW).

Expand use of the City’s current district energy system to provide cogeneration, trigeneration and more cooling from Deep Lake Water Cooling (300 MW).

Use gas burned at Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant for drying sludge to also make electricity. Use methane from the sewage sludge to power it (energy calculation unavailable).

   

Expand Toronto Hydro program to convert stand-by generators in large buildings across the city from diesel to natural gas to become suppliers of peak energy and start to develop cogeneration in those buildings (220 MW).

Set up a number of district energy grids in the city including the Port Lands to provide heat, cooling and power as efficiently as possible (energy calculation unavailable). The plant proposed by the Province of Ontario for the Port Lands must be restricted to a highly efficient, cogeneration plant no greater than 250 megawatts, half the size or less than the current proposal.

Provide substantial community investment in green energy and efficiency in the Beach and Riverdale to cut local emissions to balance out any impact from operation of the new plant (energy calculation unavailable). Provide other community benefits.