DEEP’s future gets fresh scrutiny

By WES KELLER Orangeville Citizen May 15 2013

The fate of Dufferin Eco Energy Park (DEEP) appears to be up in the air following the recent request from energy-fromwaste (EFW) co-proponent Navitus that Dufferin invest $2 million in the proposed Westinghouse plasma gasification plant.

At county council last Thursday, Melancthon Mayor Bill Hill and Mono Deputy- Mayor Ken McGhee moved that “all of the proponents (be advised) that they are not prepared to move ahead and inform them that as a result the County of Dufferin is reviewing the waste management goals and objectives for the site; and that a long term vision for the site be developed through the Strategic Plan and Official Plan processes,” and then moved that the motion be tabled to the June council meeting.

The tabling of the motion carried, but was subsequently withdrawn in favour of returning the issue to the Community Development Committee for a recommendation to be brought to the June county council meeting.

The EFW plant has been central to the development of DEEP, along with a composter in partnership with York Region. But the multi-million dollar plant needed public investment and the importation of garbage, neither of which had been confirmed.

As well, the county had been hoping that the electricity produced by the plant could qualify for at least 12 cents a kilowatt hour under the provincial FIT (feed-in-tariff) program, but that had not been achieved.

The issue had arisen at the April council meeting when a resident asked a series of questions about DEEP, and concluded that it might be time to stand back and take a fresh look at the development.