Let’s All Say NO to a Carbon-Polluting Gas-Fired Plant in the Niagara Municipality of Thorold

A News Commentary by Niagara At Large reporter and publisher Doug Draper

Posted September 18^th, 2023 on Niagara At Large

This Tuesday, September 19^th at 6:30 p.m., the City of Thorold’s council will be holding a special meeting to decide whether or not to approvel plan by a corporation called Northland Power to operate in Thorold a gas-fired plant for generating energy during times of peak energy demands.

Representatives of Northland Power – a company that is also known in more positive ways for building renewable solar and wind energy plants across the country – told me and others attending an open house this past spring on the Thorold project that Ontario’s Ford government is pushing for these gas-fired “peaking projects.”

This is the same provincial government whose Premier, Doug Ford, declared more than four years ago that he was “proud” to rip up hundreds of renewable energy contracts signed with private companies by Ontario’s former Liberal government.

Now, somehow, Ford decides that we need additional energy. But instead of renewable energy, he wants to build plants that burn carbon fuels at a time when the climate crisis is peaking with catastrophic wild fires, flooding, droughts and wind storms.

Let’s hope that a majority on Thorold’s council turns down this carbon-polluting project and instead make a pledge to welcome renewable energy projects into the community.

The City of Thorold’s current council and a number of its past councils have had a good track record of protecting green places, including a much-beloved ‘Frog Pond” near an equally cherished”Mel Swart Conservation Park” off Lake Gibson, There is a good deal other municalites can learn from the way Thorold’s council and groups of its residents have worked to build sustainable housing projects within its urban boundaries and preserve and rejuvenate its heritage buildings and downtown.

So it would be tragic if this Thorold council said yes to a carbon-polluting energy plant at a time when climate change is wreaking billions of dollars of destruction on our country and other regions around our planet.

Please raise your voice and urge Thorold’s mayor and members of council to turn down this Doug Ford-driven energy project.

For more information on this issue and contact information for Thorold councillors, click on – https://niagaraatlarge.com/2023/09/12/an-update-on-the-thorold-council-meeting-to-decide-whether-or-not-to-approve-plans-for-a-carbon-polluting-energy-plant/

You can also attend a rally that is being held in front of Thorold’s City headquarters on the evening of the September 19^th meeting, hosted by the Niagara based citizens group 50by30 Niagara.

Here is more information on that rally –

*Let’s shut down that proposed Thorold gas plant, shall we? *

Thorold Council is holding a special meeting regarding the gas plant on *Sept 19th*. It feels like our efforts could be successful, but now we have to finish strong, and finish this task off.

A big thanks to everyone who has phoned, emailed, and contacted the councillors to make your voices heard. I believe we’re about to find out how successful work like this can be. Now we need to finish it strong by showing up at the council chambers in person.

*Rallying in opposition to the gas plant*

The Council is meeting at 6:30, so let’s gather for a Rally at 6pm as the councillors enter the building. As many of us as can go inside for the meeting will do so and support our speakers. The rest can stay outside as long as we can stand it.

*Meet at 6pm, on Tuesday, Sept 19, at Thorold City Hall at 3540 Schmon Parkway.*

NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views On This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.

“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders