New power plant to tackle Toronto's energy needs
Last Updated: Friday, May 23, 2008 | 9:48 AM ET
CBC News
A new power generation facility is almost ready to open on Toronto's waterfront.
The Portlands Energy Centre, which occupies the land previously used by the old Hearn Generating Station at Unwin Avenue and Cherry Street, is being touted as the solution to Toronto's growing energy needs.
The PEC has two natural gas turbines that are being put through their paces in advance of June's scheduled start.
Once the final testing is done, the plant is scheduled to go into regular service on June 1, when it will generate up to a quarter of the city's power needs.
The power lines that bring electricity in from Pickering or Niagara are just about maxed out and provincial planners warned the city could face brownouts, unless a new plant was built.
"The downtown is one of the fastest-growing areas in the GTA — and without a power supply a lot of that growth wasn't going to happen. So as the condos get built and the towers go up we're able to supply that need," said Ted Gruetzner, spokesman for PEC.
As well as the two gas-powered turbines, PEC will also have a third turbine brought online later this fall, powered by the steam produced from the heat of the other two.
Architect Greg Bosner tried to rally the neighbourhood to stop the project, or get the province to look at alternatives, but failed.
He said the plant shouldn't have been built in an area the city wanted to redevelop into parks and homes.
"I've seen examples in other cities where they have to put in infrastructure, they put in beautiful buildings, not a shed," said Bosner.
