East Gwillimbury
June 16, 2008 04:58 PM
By: Patrick Mangion, Staff Writer
The Town of East Gwillimbury is the second of six York Region towns to snub the province and its controversial plan for a peak-demand power generation plant.
Councillors and Mayor James Young passed a motion at this afternoon's committee meeting declaring East Gwillimbury an unwilling host for the so-called peaker plant.
It is expected to be ratified at tonight's council meeting.
It means East Gwillimbury joins Georgina as the only northern York Region municipalities to refuse the power plant within their borders.
The decision process was glacial for East Gwillimbury, who pondered presentations from the Ontario Power Authority, the Clean Air Alliance, staff reports and community input before taking a position.
The tipping point appeared to come last Thursday, during a community meeting in Holland Landing, where Mayor Young heeded the rallying cry of the more than 200 residents voicing their displeasure about the power plant.
East Gwillimbury's decision comes as the power authority gets set to accept bids from five developers interested in building the natural gas-fired 350 megawatt peaker plant.
East Gwillimbury appeared to be the most desired location as developers chose three potential sites there — the most of any York's six northern municipalities.
While the town's decision may bring a sense of relief to its residents, it may be the source of hang-wringing among neighbouring towns.
The power authority pursued the peaker plant plan after a proposal to build larger transmission towers, in order to bring more power into the area, was met with widespread public opposition.
The province has warned if municipalities refuse the plant, it may be forced to expand the transmission line extending from Vaughan up to Georgina.
The power authority insists the plant must be operating by 2011 to ensure adequate power supply for York's growing communities.