| TRANSCANADA Proposal: Oakville Generating Station (OGS) |
 |
 |
|
See also MIRANET articles: TransCanada website: Oakville Generating Station (OGS)
TRANSCANADA RESPONSE: Mississauga News letter to the editor, by John Mikkelsen, Development Manager, TransCanada (June 3, 2010): Nanticoke won’t work. Excerpt: "[MIRANET's] coverage of the power plant issue could use some balance. It’s misleading to state that the power facility planned for Oakville could be simply moved to Nanticoke. ... Those charged with running our power system did a thorough assessment of the power supply problem and solutions in the southwest GTA. The best solution is a new natural gas-fired power plant in the southwest GTA corridor. By the way, I’m a resident of south Mississauga." MIRANET comment: Thanks for the dollar figures...most helpful...will write soon.
MIRANET RESPONSE: We have now posted our Clean Air Statement: April 16, 2010 (click to view) in response to TransCanada's recent PR video (left) concerning the proposed Oakville Generating Station, as contracted with the Ontario Power Authority (OPA). This video is a simplistic, but entirely accurate, presentation of the Ontario government’s own rationalizations (myths) behind its flawed Green Energy Strategy. These myths become 'conventional wisdom' if they are not examined and refuted. For this reason, we have posted the video -- so that citizens might understand the defects in their own government's policy. MIRANET takes heart from the necessity which TransCanada felt to make this video, which is clearly directed at shoring up the government's beseiged strategy. Click here for the MIRANET Presentation: Dec. 9, 2009 on "The Top Ten Myths" being perpetuated (slide 9). These myths are all evident in this video. Oakville Beaver article (June 18, 2010): TransCanada files challenge against air quality bylaw. Excerpt: "TransCanada Energy has launched a court challenge of an Oakville bylaw it claims is vague, unreasonable and 'enacted in bad faith for the improper purpose of preventing, delaying or frustrating the construction and operation of the Oakville Generating Station.' The company, which has been given a provincial contract to build and operate a 900-megawatt gas-fired power plant on Ford Motor Company land at 1500 Royal Windsor Dr., filed its challenge of the Town’s Health Protection Air Quality Bylaw last week. The application asks the Ontario Superior Court of Justice to quash the bylaw, which the company claims exceeds the Town’s legislative authority, was enacted in bad faith, contravenes existing environmental legislation and is invalid due to vagueness. As well, the application asks the court to rule that the company had the legal right to use the property for the generation of electricity as of March 31, 1999, and to permit that use of the property 'despite any bylaw, or any other land use control or prohibition of the Town of Oakville.' ... In a letter to Town of Oakville lawyer Doug Carr, solicitors for TransCanada note that they are requesting the court combine the hearing of this new application with a previous one filed by the company challenging the Town’s interim control bylaw concerning new power plants." Oakville Beaver article (April 28, 2010): Noisy days may be ahead for Oakville power plant. Excerpt: "Those living near the proposed site of the 900-megawatt, gas-fired power plant may have to endure a few noisy days if and when the plant is built." Toronto Star opinion column, by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Vice-President, Power Generation Development, TransCanada Energy Ltd. (April 25, 2010): Why new natural gas power plants are a good fit for the GTA. MIRANET RESPONSE: Click to view the MIRANET response to this column, as forwarded to the Toronto Star, TransCanada, Premier Dalton McGuinty, the Ontario Power Authority and other parties to this matter. Excerpt: "We are pleased that TransCanada acknowledges that there is a debate regarding Ontario’s energy strategy, particularly in the GTA where so many natural gas power plants are being built in populated communities. ... As with their video, we don’t believe TransCanada’s column is directed at the citizens, but rather, at the Ontario government, in an effort to shore up a flawed energy strategy that would see TransCanada receive a 9% guaranteed annual return on $1.2B (after tax) over 20 years, regardless of how little power is produced by the proposed Oakville Generating Station." Mississauga News article (April 15, 2010): City may be targeted for power plant: Mayor. Excerpt: "Mayor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it is concerned TransCanada may turn its sights on south Mississauga to locate its 900-megawatt gas-fired power plant if the corporation is stymied in its bid to put the facility in Oakville. ... Now Mississauga officials are getting concerned that TransCanada may fail in its bid or grow weary of the protracted fight. They fear the company might then try to locate the plant in Clarkson." Oakville Beaver article (April 14, 2010): Halton Hills power plant demo occurs without incident. Excerpt: "TransCanada’s 683-megawatt gas-fired power plant in Halton Hills recently completed the same operation, without incident, that led to an explosion at a power plant in Middletown, Connecticut. The energy giant invited local media to the power plant during the cleaning of its natural gas piping, in late March, to explain the difference between the process TransCanada uses when it constructs a plant and process that is believed to have been used at the Middletown plant during its construction. ... TransCanada acknowledges that since 2007 there have been five 'incidents' on TransCanada’s pipeline system." WEATHER NETWORK SERIES: The Weather Network has produced a five-part series (March 2010): Power... At What Cost? about the Oakville Generating Station. The video stories are now online (click to view). Town of Oakville, News Release (March 30, 2010): Town to defend its interim control by-law against TransCanada court actions. Excerpt: "The town will defend its interim control by-law against TransCanada Energy's latest court action, which seeks an order from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice enabling TransCanada to move forward with its plans to build a 900 megawatt power plant at 1500 Royal Windsor Drive, despite the by-law's prohibitions. ... TransCanada's application will be heard on June 24. In addition, TransCanada is appealing its site plan, minor variance and severance applications regarding the proposed power plant to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). A date for the hearing of these appeals has not yet been set. ... Another application from TransCanada seeking leave to appeal the decision made by the OMB last December to uphold the town's interim control by-law is also before the courts." Oakville Beaver article (March 30, 2010): Interim bylaw extension prompts legal action by TransCanada. Excerpt: "Fresh legal action from TransCanada failed to keep Town councillors from voting to extend an interim control bylaw, which is threatening to hold up construction of the 900-megawatt gas-fired power plant proposed for the Ford-owned lands of 1500 Royal Windsor Dr." Oakville Beaver article (March 24, 2010): Why was TransCanada site chosen?. Excerpt: "The Ontario Power Authority (OPA) has rejected Oakville MPP
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
’s request for more information about why Oakville was chosen as the site for a 900-megawatt gas-fired power plant. Last November, Flynn made the request, under the Freedom of Information Act, for a total of 24 different documents and pieces of information. On Friday, Flynn announced that all 24 requests have been turned down by the OPA. ... 'We tried to very specifically ask for all the information that would allow the OPA to explain to the people of Oakville how on earth they picked [the Oakville] site ... over some of the other sites that were available [meaning the three sites in Clarkson],' said Flynn. 'I don’t think any one of those sites is suitable, but if I had to rank them, Oakville is clearly the least suitable of the four sites.' ... Questions were also asked about the plant’s environmental impact and if any of the other sites were better suited to absorbing it." March 15, 2010: In an e-mail forwarded to MIRANET, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Vice-President, Communications, Ontario Power Authority (OPA), stated: "I know there has been a lot of speculation in your community about whether a SWGTA gas-fired generating facility could end up in back in your municipality [Mississauga]. Let me assure you, that we have every confidence that TransCanada [Energy] (TCE) will deliver on its contract to build the Oakville Generating Station at its proposed site. I think that answers your third question, which is, yes the site is in the contract (which is publicly available on our web-site)." Oakville Beaver article (Feb. 24, 2010): Premier hands over concerns to ministry staff. Excerpt: "Ontario’s Premier appreciates Oakville’s concerns, but says the 900-megawatt gas-fired power plant, proposed for the Ford-owned lands of 1500 Royal Windsor Dr., is still coming. This was the gist of a letter received from Premier Dalton McGuinty in response to a letter from Mayor Rob Burton [Feb. 9] in which Burton asked McGuinty to re-evaluate the power plant’s location ... 'Our community is worried about its health and safety,' said Burton. ... In his Feb. 17 response to Burton, McGuinty thanked him for sharing his views, but noted he was committed to creating local power generation in the southwest GTA." Click here to view the Nov. 17, 2010 Letter from the Premier. Excerpt: "Our government, the Ontario Power Authority and TransCanada Corporation, the project proponent, have listened carefully to the community’s concerns. I have noted your comments about Middletown, Connecticut. As the issue would best be addressed by my colleague, the Honourable This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, I have asked that the minister, or a member of his staff, respond to you directly." Environmental Law and Litigation blog, by Dianne Saxe (Feb. 16, 2010): More about Oakville. Excerpt: "Since you have shown so much interest in the Oakville air permit bylaw, here is some additional information: ... For the February 16, 2010 council meeting, the report from the City’s Legal Department 'Proposed Power Generation Facility – DRAFT Environmental Review Report' is on the Agenda." NOTE: The Agenda provides a link to the Staff Report re the Draft ERR. MUST READ: Environmental Law and Litigation blog, by Dianne Saxe (Feb. 15, 2010): Can Oakville make power plant get municipal air permit?. Excerpt: "Can municipalities insist that local industries obtain municipal air permits, in addition to those issued by the province? Spurred by opposition to a new gas-fired electric power plant, the Town of Oakville has opened a new front in the long battle over the role of municipalities in controlling pollution. ... On February 2, Oakville council therefore took matters into its own hands, passing the Health Protection Air Quality By-law 2010-035. ... It will almost certainly be challenged in the courts. In the interim, it may or may not hold up the proposed power plant." Oakville Beaver article (Feb. 12, 2010): TransCanada would be major emitter. Excerpt: "TransCanada broke its silence on the Town’s recently passed Health Protection Air Quality Bylaw [2010-035] during its Wednesday night open house, noting that under the legislation its proposed 900-megawatt gas-fired power plant would be considered a major emitter of pollutants. ... 'We don’t believe the Town of Oakville has the jurisdiction to deal with air quality issues,' said This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , TransCanada’s project manager of the Oakville Generating Station. 'We believe this falls under provincial jurisdiction.' ... Steeves said TransCanada has yet to decide what course of action it will take to deal with the bylaw, but did not rule out an appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board." Town of Oakville, Office of the Mayor - News Release (Feb. 11, 2010): Mayor Burton invites Minister Duguid to tour proposed power plant site. Excerpt: "Mayor This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it invited the Honourable This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, to join him and Oakville MPP This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for a personally guided tour around the site of the proposed TransCanada power plant in Oakville. In a Letter (pdf) to Minister Duguid, Mayor Burton noted that the site, at 1500 Royal Windsor Drive, is less than 400 metres from the closest school and homes, and that the recent explosion at a Connecticut natural gas power plant has the community alarmed." Oakville Beaver article (Feb. 10, 2010): Battling power plant comes with a price tag. Excerpt: "Battling TransCanada and its proposed Oakville power plant has already cost the Town of Oakville $350,000 and is expected to cost another $1 million in the coming year. ... The money will primarily be spent on legal and consulting fees, as the Town responds to an environmental review report regarding the facility and prepares for a potential legal battle in Ontario Divisional Court." February 10, 2010: TransCanada held a public Open House in Oakville regarding their proposal and their Draft Environmental Review Report (ERR) for Oakville Generating Station (OGS), a 900MW natural gas-fired power plant to be located at 1500 Royal Windsor Drive. Click here for the MIRANET article. Citizens for Clean Air (C4CA), Letter to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , President and CEO of TransCanada Corporation (Feb. 9, 2010): Proposed Oakville Gas-Powered Electricity Generating Station. Excerpt: "We trust that TransCanada will honour its commitments, including to the local communities, and engage in a proper environmental assessment with full public consultation. By copy of this letter to the Premier, the Minister of Environment, the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and the OPA, we hope that government of Ontario will intervene and put a stop to this unacceptable process, which otherwise would result in a very negative legacy for many decades to come." Mississauga News article (Feb. 10, 2010): Proposed moratorium nixed. Excerpt: "Early indications are the Connecticut explosion occurred as natural gas was being used to clean pipes. TransCanada uses compressed air or an inert gas such as nitrogen, virtually ensuring that no such explosion would occur in similar circumstances." Citizens for Clean Air (C4CA), News Release (Feb. 10, 2010): C4CA Calls for Moratorium on Proposed Oakville 945-Megawatt Gas-Fired Power Plant. Excerpt: "Citizens for Clean Air (C4CA) today called on Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty to implement an immediate moratorium on the proposed Oakville Generating Station in the wake of an explosion in a 620-megawatt gas-fired plant in Middletown, Connecticut this past weekend." January 26, 2010: Draft Environmental Review Report (ERR) and supporting technical documents pertaining to the proposed Oakville Generating Station (OGS) were released. This report will be available for public review from January 26 until March 4, 2010. Results of stakeholder feedback and comments on the Draft ERR become a key part of the Final Environmental Review Report (Final ERR) and are integral to the approval process. January 21, 2010: TransCanada Notification re: Oakville Generating Station. Excerpt: "TransCanada has completed a Draft Environmental Review Report and supporting technical documents for the Project. The report will be made available for public review from January 26 to February 26, 2010 [extended to March 4, 2010]. ... The Final Environmental Review Report will be released in the coming months and will be available for public review and comment for a 75-day period. ... We will contact you very shortly regarding a public Open House." Oakville Beaver article (Dec. 2, 2009): "TransCanada places order". Excerpt: "TransCanada announced earlier this month that it has placed an order with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., for two sets of gas turbines and generators, intended to become the core components of the Oakville Generating Station. The decision to move forward with this project might be considered premature as the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) has yet to make a decision on whether a 900-megawatt gas-fired power plant will even be allowed in Oakville." Click here for the MIRANET article on the OMB Hearing. November 24, 2009: TransCanada held a Community Information Session in Oakville for representatives of all RAs within an approximately 6 km radius of the Oakville Generating Station (OGS) project site (covering both SW Mississauga and SE Oakville). MIRANET was also represented. Click here for the MIRANET article about the Meeting. JCN Network - Japan's Corporate News (Tokyo: Nov. 19, 2009): "MHI Receives Order for Two Sets of Gas Turbines and Generators for GTCC Power Generation Plant in Ontario". Excerpt: "Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has received an order for two sets of gas turbines and generators (GTG) from North American energy infrastructure company TransCanada. The GTG sets on order will be core components of TransCanada's 900 megawatt (MW) gas turbine combined cycle (GTCC) power generation plant - the Oakville Generating Station (OGS) - to be built in Ontario. The GTG sets are slated for delivery in mid 2011. OGS is planned to be in-service by the end of 2013 and supplying electricity to the Ontario Power Authority (OPA)." HDR Announcement (Omaha, Nebraska - Nov. 16, 2009): HDR Secures Major Power Project in Canada. Excerpt: "HDR has received notice from TransCanada Corporation to proceed on construction of a 900 megawatt natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant in Oakville, Ontario. In a joint venture, HDR Corporation and Aker Construction Canada Ltd., a subsidiary of Aker Solutions ASA, will execute engineering, procurement and construction work on the project in cooperation with TransCanada." Marketwire (Nov. 10, 2009): Aker Solutions secures major power project for TransCanada in North America. Excerpt: "Aker Solutions has been awarded a notice to proceed by TransCanada Corporation (TransCanada) for the construction of a 900 megawatt (MW) natural gas-fired combined cycle power plant in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Under a joint venture, Aker Construction Canada Ltd, a subsidiary of Aker Solutions ASA, and HDR Corporation will execute engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) work on the project in cooperation with TransCanada. The contract value to Aker Solutions is approximately CAD $400 million." TransCanada Corporation (Nov. 4, 2009 - p30): Third Quarter 2009: Quarterly Report to Shareholders. Excerpt: "Oakville On September 30, 2009, the OPA awarded TransCanada a 20-year Clean Energy Supply contract to build, own and operate the 900 MW Oakville generating station in Oakville, Ontario. TransCanada expects to invest approximately $1.2 billion in the natural gas-fired, combined-cycle plant which is scheduled to start producing power by the end of 2013. TransCanada expects this project will deliver an after-tax unlevered rate of return of nine per cent." October 21, 2009: Oakville Beaver letter from TransCanada (Oct. 21, 2009): TransCanada offers to pay for independent environmental study. September 30, 2009: The TransCanada proposal per the Oakville Generating Station (OGS) has been announced by the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) as the selected bid out of the four (4) proposals submitted under the RFP to build a power plant in the Clarkson-Oakville Airshed. TransCanada was awarded the OPA contract to build and operate a 900MW natural gas-fired power plant. Click here for the OPA's Sept. 30, 2009 press release announcing the plant (including aerial map). Click here for the MIRANET article about the OPA decision. March 2009: TransCanada issued a Notice of Commencement for its proposed power plant to be located at 1500 Royal Windsor Drive in Oakville on lands currently owned by Ford Motor Company of Canada. |
