Concerns of residents will be heard, say plant officials

Executives with TransCanada Energy (TCE) recently updated Halton Hills council members on its power generation plant in the 401 Corridor. TCE was given the go-ahead in November by the Ontario Power Authority to build and operate a 680 MW power generation plant on Steeles Ave., west of Sixth Line. Plans are to have the plant in service by June 2010, said Finn Greflund, TCE vice-president at the December council meeting. Project Manager John Mikkleson announced upcoming timelines such as a zoning bylaw variance request to be heard at the Jan. 11 Committee of Adjustment meeting. TCE plans to submit its final environmental review report (ERR) to the Ministry of Environment before the end of December. Assuming all the permits and approvals are received, construction could begin as early as this spring, he said. Christine Cinnamon, TCE manager of Health, Safety & Environment said public interest in the project is high, and the company continues to meet with local landowners to assure their concerns are addressed. As well, TCE has met this month with the Sierra Club, POWER and HARP and some local environmental advisory committee members to clarify information on traffic, conservation and air emissions. "We're planning to continue those discussions with them," Cinnamon said. "Information that we have given to them has been satisfactory to them, but we'll also be making clarifications within the Environmental Review Report and that's a key focus for us right now." A formal public consultation process will be done again during the MOE review, with approval expected sometime in March. Town staff also plans to review the ERR and report back to council at a future meeting. Cinnamon added that TCE is committed to setting up a community liaison committee prior to the commencement of construction.

Council approved a report giving staff the go-ahead to enter an agreement with TCE documenting the commitments and benefits: · replacing the Town's $1.5 million commitment in the 401/407 Servicing Agreement (which will bring the Big Pipe along Steeles Ave. to Trafalgar Rd.) · contributing $250,000 to Halton Hills for community purposes · enabling Halton Hills Hydro to achieve a new, and necessary, transformer station in the Corridor on the plant site. · developing a unique design for the new plant that will be directed at maintaining the "prestige industrial" nature of the Corridor. · other commitments related to construction, operational access, and abiding by Town's bylaw related to traffic and noise.