August 28, 2009, The Ontario Power Authority is enhancing the process to establish a new, cleaner source of electricity for the fast-growing southwest Greater Toronto Area in order to develop a broader approach to improving air quality in the community.

The procurement process to select a company to build and operate a new natural gas plant will be completed by the end of September.  In response to community concerns, George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, has requested that the OPA expand on work that the government has done to reduce emissions from local industries. In doing so, the Ontario government and the OPA will collaborate with local governments, industries and community groups to achieve this goal. 

The new natural gas power plant, which must meet stringent air quality standards, will help address Southwest GTA’s growing power needs, particularly since the closure of the dirty coal-fired Lakeview generating station. Eliminating coal is the first step in building a cleaner, more sustainable electricity supply for the future. The new plant is expected to operate just 40 percent of the time, during periods of higher demand.

“The new plant will be a cleaner alternative to meeting the local need for electricity in the Southwest GTA,” said Colin Andersen, CEO of the Ontario Power Authority. “And we can do more to help improve overall air quality in the community by working with governments, industries and local residents.”

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For more information:

Ben Chin
Ontario Power Authority
416-969-6307