The Portlands Energy Centre (PEC) is a Natural Gas fired power plant that is being proposed to be built in the Portlands area. Ontario Power Generation is proposing that it be located next to the old Hearn Generating Plant on Unwin Avenue. This is metres from the water's edge and the Martin Goodman Trail. It could potentially have an impact on the Martin Goodman Trail in the area by increasing car traffic on Unwin and affecting the air quality in the area where thousands of Toronto cyclists exercise. It may also affect the water quality and at Cherry Beach which is currently the beach with the best water quality in Toronto. The stretch of land South of Unwin between Cherry Street and Leslie Street is an oasis for cyclists in the City of Toronto. We should find out what negative effects putting a power plant right in the middle of this area will have. Some local residents want a full 'Individual Environmental Assesment' of this project. There is not much time to make that request.

An 'Environmental Review' has been completed and is posted on the Portland Energy Centre's Website. This is essentially a self assessment. You can download the Notice of Completion(PDF) which explains that the review was completed and there are 30 days for public comment. That public comment period ends on December 15th, 2003. For this type of project the proponents of the project do not have to do an Environmental Assessment unless residents ask for it to be done. This is according to the provincial government's rules governing electricity projects. For more information about this process you can see the following: Press ReleaseEnvironmental assessment proceess for Electricity Projects. You can also download the full guide. Guide to Environmental Assessment Requirements for Electricity Projects(PDF)

What the Portlands Energy Centre proponents did was conduct an Environmental Screening and Environmental Review at the same time. You can see the results of that on their web site: PEC Environmental Review Report. A quick review of this report shows that the plant will have an impact on Air Quality and also on the water quality in the portlands area.

In terms of air quality their Environmental review found that there would be a 5.5 % increase in local concentration of nitrogen oxides (NOx). These are a contibutor to smog. Greg Bonser campaigned against the PEC in the recent municipal election. He has a website that elaborates on these concerns. www.gregbonser.ca/issues/pec.html. Another concern is for water quality at Cherry Beach. The Plant will draw water for cooling from the Outer Harbour which is bounded by the Leslie Street Spit and Cherry Beach. It will then release that heated water back to the Lake Ontario. The Environmental Review indicates this will have an impact on water temperatures and will result in an increase in the growth of zooplankton and have an impact on fish populations. They will also have to use chlorine to keep their intake pipes free of Zebra Mussels. The self-conducted Envrionmental Review calls all of these impacts negligible. A full Individual Environmental Assessment could determine the true impact on the waterfront.

In order to get a full Individual Environmental Assessment conducted concerned residents have to send a written request to the Director of the Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch, Ministry of the Environment.(EAAB) with a copy of the letter sent to the proponent within the 30-day review period after a Notice of Completion of the Environmental review is posted. We are currently in that 30 day period now. It ends on December 15th. An example letter from a citizens group asking that a project be eleveated to an Individual Environmental Assessment is on the web site of an environment group that was concerned about a similar power plant near Windsor Ontario. Citizens Evironment Alliance CEA letter . It raises concerns about the same impacts forseen in the "Environmental Review" for the Portlands Energy Project.

This is another challenge for Toronto Residents who want to keep the waterfront clean and green and for those who want to keep it an enjoyable and healthy place to bike.