Developer says power plant would not ruin neighbourhood By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 7 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, July 1, 2009 Developers hoping to build a gas-fired power plant on Windsor Drive in Oakville contend the facility would not adversely affect the surrounding area. TransCanada backs up that contention with the findings of the latest environmental assessment of its proposal -- the Oakville Generating Station -- to be located at 1500 Royal Windsor Dr. TransCanada unveiled the environmental assessment at its second open house at the Argus Road Holiday Inn last week. The energy-infrastructure company is one of four organizations bidding on a contract from the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) to build and operate a 900-megawatt gasfired power plant. The environmental assessment, which must be approved by the Ministry of the Environment, is the latest step TransCanada has undertaken as it moves toward the July 8, bid- ding due date. "We understand that everybody likes our product, they like electricity, they like natural gas, what have you, but we also appreciate that construction of these facilities does raise a number of questions, questions that do need to be dealt with in a substantive manner," said Chris Breen, project spokesperson, at the open house. From a wider environmental perspective, Breen said natural gas-fired power plants are considerably cleaner than coalfired plants, produce less than half the green house gas emissions, less than one third of the Nitrogen oxide and only one per cent of the sulfur dioxide. Breen said the plant's emissions would be well within what is considered acceptable by the Ministry of the Environment. "Our studies have shown that our (nitrogen oxide) emissions would represent about 36 per cent of what is mandated as a limit by the Ministry of the Environment," said Breen. "Carbon was at 26 per cent, particulate matter was at 11 per cent. So, we're coming no where near the maximum thresholds that the Ministry of the Environment has established as levels they think could cause some concern." Besides air quality, the assessment also looked at the noise or vibration that would be created by the proposed power plant. TransCanada Environmental Manager for Power Generation and Development Christine Cinnamon noted that during the day the noise created by the plant would be below 50 decibels dropping to 45 decibels during the night. "To put that in perspective, 45 decibels is equivalent to someone talking normally. That compares with the existing ambient noise in the area, which is dominated in this area by mostly traffic and industry." The plant will not be in continuous operation, but rather functioning as an intermediate plant at between 15 and 40 per cent of capacity. John Mikkelsen, manager of power development engineering for TransCanada, said the plant is expected to stop and start on a daily basis Monday through Friday. "It would start to meet the morning peak demand and then shut down after the evening peak demand," he said. "It will really depend on the season and it will depend on where load goes in Ontario over the next 20 years." The environmental assessment also found that due to the evaporation of 4,000 gallons of water per hour, there will be a periodic plume of water vapour around the plant, but it is only expected to be visible for a total of less than 20 hours per year. Icing caused by the vapour is not expected to take place during more See Power page 8 COMMERCIAL AUCTION SALE Thursday July 2, 6:00 pm (Rain or Shine) On Site at 2284 Speers Road, Oakville On behalf of the estate of "Steven Westlin" We will be selling "On site" to the bare walls all machinery and equipment From "Condec Industries" - A specialty silk screen printing business. Also included 1979 Corvette and 1989 Olds Sierra Partial listing: OMSO RS32 pc. Control and basket drier, OMSO RS37 for pressure sensitive labels, OMSO RS37 screen printer, Benmar semi auto screen printer, American/Cincinnati style semi auto screen printer for cylinder and oval, 2 conveyer drying belts, AGFA Repromaster 2200 Stat camera fully auto enlarge - reduce, film processor, assorted parts and accessories, assorted conveyers, corrugated box screen printer, automatic cap printing machine with vibrating sorting bowl 20-70mm., inventory of inks and solvents, vacu light table, 5 HP. 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