Proposed $49.9M diesel plant in southern Labrador on hold for more consultations
CBC
A proposed $49.9-million super diesel plant in Labrador is on hold after some community members raised concerns.
In a statement to CBC News on Wednesday, N.L. Hydro said that "in light of concerns raised by some parties," it asked the provincial Public Utilities Board on Nov. 10 to suspend the review schedule.
Among those raising concerns is Mary's Harbour Mayor Alton Rumbolt, who said the proposal doesn't make sense to him, as the federal government has pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
"This is not what we want anymore," he told told CBC's Labrador Morning earlier this month
The proposed plant in Port Hope-Simpson would power it, Charlottetown, Mary's Harbour and St. Lewis. In its July 16 application to the regulator, Hydro said the need has been expedited due to an October 2019 fire at the Charlottetown diesel plant that left it inoperable.
In its statement to N.L. Hydro said pausing the review schedule will allow it to continue discussions with groups that have concerns.
"Hydro hopes to have these discussions in the coming weeks," reads the statement.
Rumbolt said the town would prefer to use hydro power from Muskrat Falls. While it would cost more, he said, it's greener energy and more stable than diesel.
But Port Hope-Simpson Mayor Margaret Burden says she was surprised that the proposal is on hold.
"Right from the start, I thought it was the best of all the options," she said.
In its application, N.L. Hydro said it considered the potential role of renewable energy resources but renewable energy technologies present challenges that limit their viability as the primary sources of capacity in isolated systems.
Renewable sources can be used to help provide energy by reducing the amount of diesel consumed in the future, but for now the diesel plant is the lowest-cost option, says the application.
Connecting the southern Labrador communities to Happy Valley-Goose Bay would also be costly, Burden said, adding the proposed plant, even though it's a large one, would produce less emissions than the four current generating plants.
She hopes the new round of consultations will have open forums for people to ask questions before the review continues.
CBC Newfoundland and Labrador is kicking off its annual holiday campaign, helping to raise money to support local food banks.
If all goes according to plan, at 6 a.m. AT on Saturday people working at the IWK Health Centre will become the test case for a generational change to Nova Scotia’s health-care system.
One month after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced what he called "generational" military spending, New Brunswick’s defence ecosystem is on high alert.
Miranda Mirlycourtois, 34, looks directly at the camera and makes a confession.
Saskatoon city hall says police spending is projected to be $2.6 million over budget this year. That pushes the city into a $1.2-million deficit position, according to a report that will be considered by city council next week.
Students at the University of Regina are days away from deciding whether a newly formed student association should become their official representative body.
All public schools on P.E.I. are closed Friday and thousands of Maritime Electric customers are without power as strong winds create hazardous travel conditions across the province.
Prince Rupert, B.C., residents are celebrating the holidays this year with coastal flair.
In the four years Chelsey Simmonds has worked at the Eva Rothwell Centre, she has seen the need increase every year at the centre’s community food pantry.
CBC is once again looking to make the holiday season kind in Windsor-Essex.
Acute Care Alberta has extended its contract for another year with a private surgical facility at the centre of probes into health procurement and contracting.
As food bank use continues to climb across the province, front-line workers in Thunder Bay, Ont., are working to improve both food security and education.
More ads could soon be coming to Toronto’s subway system.