Capital Power wants to almost double pollution from Brampton gas plant

ONTARIO CLEAN AIR ALLIANCE

Capital Power is seeking permission from the Ford Government to increase the smog and greenhouse gas pollution from its Goreway gas-fired power plant in Brampton by more than 80% by 2032. If Capital Power’s request is approved, Goreway’s air pollution in 2032 will be equal to that of 266,000 cars.

Capital Power has not provided any estimates of the adverse health impacts (e.g., number of asthma attacks, emergency room visits, hospital admissions, premature deaths) that will be caused by increasing Goreway’s smog pollution by more than 80% in its application to the Ministry of the Environment. This is important information that the Ministry should be asking for if it is really going to protect the air we breathe.

Brampton does not need more air pollution. With Pearson Airport on its doorstep, ringed by highways, and home to many truck-dependent warehouses, this community already has more than its fair share of air pollution sources.

Fortunately, we have much cleaner and lower cost options to keep our lights on.

Ontario’s demand for electricity peaks on hot summer days when our air-conditioners are running full out. But Quebec’s demand for electricity peaks on cold winter nights since most of its homes are electrically heated. As a result, Quebec has a huge surplus of waterpower available to export to Ontario during the summer to power our air conditioners on hot summer days.

Meanwhile, according to the Royal Bank of Canada, Ontario can completely avoid the need for new gas-fired electricity generation capacity and save $500 million per year by investing in technologies to increase our energy efficiency and shift electricity demand from peak to off-peak periods.

Finally, we can also avoid the need to increase the size of the Goreway gas plant by investing in wind and solar energy. For example, offshore wind power deployed in the four Great Lakes bordering this province could meet all of Ontario’s electricity needs.

Please contact Environment Minister Khanjin and ask her to protect Brampton’s children and our climate by subjecting Capital Power’s proposal to an Environmental Assessment.

To read our letter to Minister Khanjin, please click here.

Thank you!

Angela Bischoff, Director
Ontario Clean Air Alliance