Thorold council votes unanimously to deny gas plant expansion in city’s south end
Concern over emissions from completed $300-million project voiced by residents
By Matthew P. Barker Standard Reporter
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Julie Jocsak / Torstar
Northland Power’s existing plant at 90 Allanburg Rd. in Thorold.
Thorold city council unanimously voted against the Northland Power’s proposed gas plant expansion during a special meeting held Tuesday night.
Concerned residents packed council chambers to voice worries about what their community would become if plans for the new plant moved forward.
Councillors heard submissions from Northland Power and anxious residents, as many residents were upset about potential fallout from the plant expansion.
Councillors took what residents said to heart and voted according to their wishes, stating they were listening to the people of Thorold and sending a message to the provincial government and renewable natural gas (RNG) companies that it is time to change and to divest from fossil fuels.
Coun. Anthony Longo led the chorus of nays by standing to address residents and presenters in council chambers.
“I’m looking at this and it looks to me like there’s two camps here,” he said referring to the people for and against the gas plant.
“It looks like we have a financial decision here to make from the proponents and a decision that’s more along the environmental and health of the province and more specifically of the people of Thorold, and that’s the side I side with.”
Northland Power’s Salvatore Provvidenza, contract manager, market, and resource development, made the case for the project’s approval stating it was helping to lower upkeep costs due to the current gas plant on site, their portfolio, and the call for capacity in the province.
“The decision to initiate the project was not taken lightly, not unlike the decision that you guys face today,” he said, referring to Thorold city council.
“The first being the calls for capacity, but the expectation the project will produce little energy in emissions, second, the Thorold site makes sense, leveraging existing infrastructure lowering repair costs and continuing to work with and build relationships with the city, community and rights holders, and third is the prospect of using a low carbon fuel to displace or lower emissions.”
Longo said there were several “great presentations” but only one stood out in his mind, touching on the true issue of the decision before council.
“It was Mr. (Don) Morley, a resident of Thorold, who talked about living there, about the emissions, the years of putting up with it and the fear going forward,” he said.
“What I’m hearing is there will be more emissions, although these emissions will be reduced, but it’s still more emissions and it’s not what the people of Thorold south or the people in Thorold or Niagara region deserve.”
Morley, a resident of Thorold, spoke before council about the additional pollutionif the gas plant expansion were to go forward.
“I can’t begin to express the concern I have for the particulates currently falling, that are heavier than air, that you can not only see, but feel, not just during the day, but more so at night,” he said.
“Where the sight of the brown plumes we’re seeing from miles away is much greater for, I fear, that same reason, so it can’t be seen.”
Morley added he has very little confidence in Northland Power, as in his eyes, they have not “lived up to their previous commitment,” referring to the current power plant and its pollution.
The proposed gas plant expansion was expected to be built near the original Northland Power plant located at 90 Allanburg Rd.
The cost was projected at close to $300 million with about $200 million toward local suppliers and workers building the plant, something many presenters said would go farther if Northland Power looked at other options to prevent further carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere.
Jack Gibbons, chair of the Ontario Clean Air Alliance said it did not make sense to build a new gas plant when the world is on fire, and society should turn to renewable options like wind, solar or water (hydro) to meet demands.
He said the good news is there are cleaner and more cost-effective options to ensure the province’s power needs, especially during the summer when power demands are at peak.
“Ontario can completely avoid the need for new gas-fired power plants and reduce our electricity costs by $500 million per year by investing in energy efficiency and demand management,” Gibbons said.
“Building new gas plants is not a cost-effective way to meet Ontario’s electricity needs, a good option to avoid the need for a new gas plant is to import clean waterpower from Quebec.”
Unlike Ontario, Gibbons said, Quebec power demands come during the winter, while Ontario’s are in summer.
“This is another cleaner and lower cost option to meet our electricity needs, than building a new gas plant,” he said.
“Ontario needs to invest in made in Ontario renewable energy, wind and solar are now our lowest cost sources of new electricity supply.”
Coun. Ken Sentance, following Longo’s example stood to address the crowd for his decision, and said he understands the concerns and by that voted accordingly.
“When I look at Northland and I understand you have a job to represent them, but we have a job to represent the people who elected us, the citizens of Thorold and especially Thorold South,” he said.
Sentance said he, and therefore the people of Thorold, would be more receptive to renewable, cleaner, and more environmentally friendly options.
With that Sentance urged Northland Power to think big moving forward and see what they could do on the land to benefit everyone.
“You have the land there, you have this idea to put the other peaker plant there, let’s look at putting solar there, let’s look at putting battery storage there… let’s work together,” he said.
“When I look on Northland’s website, every project on there right now is solar, wind or battery, there is no gas component to it, so let’s be partners in this.”
mbarker@niagaradailies.com
Matthew P. Barker is a St. Catharines-based general assignment reporter for the Standard.
Concern over emissions from completed $300-million project voiced by residents
By Matthew P. Barker Standard Reporter
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Julie Jocsak / Torstar
Northland Power’s existing plant at 90 Allanburg Rd. in Thorold.
Thorold city council unanimously voted against the Northland Power’s proposed gas plant expansion during a special meeting held Tuesday night.
Concerned residents packed council chambers to voice worries about what their community would become if plans for the new plant moved forward.
Councillors heard submissions from Northland Power and anxious residents, as many residents were upset about potential fallout from the plant expansion.
Councillors took what residents said to heart and voted according to their wishes, stating they were listening to the people of Thorold and sending a message to the provincial government and renewable natural gas (RNG) companies that it is time to change and to divest from fossil fuels.
Coun. Anthony Longo led the chorus of nays by standing to address residents and presenters in council chambers.
“I’m looking at this and it looks to me like there’s two camps here,” he said referring to the people for and against the gas plant.
“It looks like we have a financial decision here to make from the proponents and a decision that’s more along the environmental and health of the province and more specifically of the people of Thorold, and that’s the side I side with.”
Northland Power’s Salvatore Provvidenza, contract manager, market, and resource development, made the case for the project’s approval stating it was helping to lower upkeep costs due to the current gas plant on site, their portfolio, and the call for capacity in the province.
“The decision to initiate the project was not taken lightly, not unlike the decision that you guys face today,” he said, referring to Thorold city council.
“The first being the calls for capacity, but the expectation the project will produce little energy in emissions, second, the Thorold site makes sense, leveraging existing infrastructure lowering repair costs and continuing to work with and build relationships with the city, community and rights holders, and third is the prospect of using a low carbon fuel to displace or lower emissions.”
Longo said there were several “great presentations” but only one stood out in his mind, touching on the true issue of the decision before council.
“It was Mr. (Don) Morley, a resident of Thorold, who talked about living there, about the emissions, the years of putting up with it and the fear going forward,” he said.
“What I’m hearing is there will be more emissions, although these emissions will be reduced, but it’s still more emissions and it’s not what the people of Thorold south or the people in Thorold or Niagara region deserve.”
Morley, a resident of Thorold, spoke before council about the additional pollutionif the gas plant expansion were to go forward.
“I can’t begin to express the concern I have for the particulates currently falling, that are heavier than air, that you can not only see, but feel, not just during the day, but more so at night,” he said.
“Where the sight of the brown plumes we’re seeing from miles away is much greater for, I fear, that same reason, so it can’t be seen.”
Morley added he has very little confidence in Northland Power, as in his eyes, they have not “lived up to their previous commitment,” referring to the current power plant and its pollution.
The proposed gas plant expansion was expected to be built near the original Northland Power plant located at 90 Allanburg Rd.
The cost was projected at close to $300 million with about $200 million toward local suppliers and workers building the plant, something many presenters said would go farther if Northland Power looked at other options to prevent further carbon emissions from entering the atmosphere.
Jack Gibbons, chair of the Ontario Clean Air Alliance said it did not make sense to build a new gas plant when the world is on fire, and society should turn to renewable options like wind, solar or water (hydro) to meet demands.
He said the good news is there are cleaner and more cost-effective options to ensure the province’s power needs, especially during the summer when power demands are at peak.
“Ontario can completely avoid the need for new gas-fired power plants and reduce our electricity costs by $500 million per year by investing in energy efficiency and demand management,” Gibbons said.
“Building new gas plants is not a cost-effective way to meet Ontario’s electricity needs, a good option to avoid the need for a new gas plant is to import clean waterpower from Quebec.”
Unlike Ontario, Gibbons said, Quebec power demands come during the winter, while Ontario’s are in summer.
“This is another cleaner and lower cost option to meet our electricity needs, than building a new gas plant,” he said.
“Ontario needs to invest in made in Ontario renewable energy, wind and solar are now our lowest cost sources of new electricity supply.”
Coun. Ken Sentance, following Longo’s example stood to address the crowd for his decision, and said he understands the concerns and by that voted accordingly.
“When I look at Northland and I understand you have a job to represent them, but we have a job to represent the people who elected us, the citizens of Thorold and especially Thorold South,” he said.
Sentance said he, and therefore the people of Thorold, would be more receptive to renewable, cleaner, and more environmentally friendly options.
With that Sentance urged Northland Power to think big moving forward and see what they could do on the land to benefit everyone.
“You have the land there, you have this idea to put the other peaker plant there, let’s look at putting solar there, let’s look at putting battery storage there… let’s work together,” he said.
“When I look on Northland’s website, every project on there right now is solar, wind or battery, there is no gas component to it, so let’s be partners in this.”
mbarker@niagaradailies.com
Matthew P. Barker is a St. Catharines-based general assignment reporter for the Standard.
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