“We are encouraged to see communities like Thorold recognize this and stand up for their residents. … In voting against this proposal, Thorold has both helped with the global project of decarbonization and taken an important step to protect air quality in Thorold and the broader Niagara region.” – from the Canada-wide group Environmental Defence
A Statement on Thorold City Council’s Unanimous Vote Against a New Gas Plant in Niagara, Ontario
From the Canadian citizens advocacy group for green issues, ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE
Posted September 20th, 2023 on Niagara At Large
Toronto | Traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat – We applaud the members of Thorold City Council for voting unanimously against this unnecessary and highly polluting project. Ontario doesn’t need more gas plants.
We are encouraged to see communities like Thorold recognize this and stand up for their residents. In order to ensure a safe and stable future, we need more clean energy, not more fossil power.
Respected bodies like the International Energy Agency have been clear – there is no room for new fossil fuel infrastructure if we want to hold warming to 1.5 degrees.
Along with their contribution to larger climate change impacts, gas plants also cause local air pollution – mainly nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. In voting against this proposal, Thorold has both helped with the global project of decarbonization and taken an important step to protect air quality in Thorold and the broader Niagara region.
Additionally, Thorold’s vote against this project will also save Ontarians hundreds of millions of dollars. Based on other gas plant contracts recently inked by the Independent Energy System Operator (IESO), the gas plant proposed for Thorold could have cost over $700 million over the term of the contract.
This, despite the project developer – Northland Power – saying that they anticipate the plant would produce “little energy” and act as a backup option.
It would have been a giveaway to fossil fuel project developers – not so different from other giveaways this province has handed out to other developers in recent months.
Thorold has set an example that other municipalities should follow if prospective gas-plant developers come calling.
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
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