Image

ICYMI: Is the LGS site the future of energy?

December 26, 2024

Heather Wright/The Independent

St. Clair Township Mayor Jeff Agar is excited about the prospect of the Lambton Generating Station once again becoming a site for energy production in the province.

Nov. 27, the province announced it wants Ontario Power Generation to explore the possibilities for power at three of its sites – including the one in Courtright.

In a news release, the province says its asked OPG to work with municipal and Indigenous leaders and the communities of Port Hope, Haldimand County and St. Clair “ to determine community support for all types of new energy generation, including nuclear, to meet Ontario’s soaring demand for electricity. “

The Independent Electricity System Operator says the province’s power demand will increase 75 per cent by 2050. A number of major projects, including new transmission lines through Chatham-Kent and Lambton counties, are in the works, but more power will be needed.

“To meet soaring energy demands, we’re working with communities to plan ahead and build for our future so that we can generate more power that is reliable and affordable,” says Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy, in a news release, adding the province is looking for places to expand.

“Three of these sites – Wesleyville in Port Hope, Nanticoke in Haldimand County and Lambton in St. Clair – are already zoned for electricity generation, have proximity to transmission, and are located in Southern Ontario, within regions experiencing significant growth.”

The province says it will provide a $50 million fund to improve infrastructure in the communities hosting new power projects.

Agar welcomes the news. “I’ve been pushing at this for the last two years,” he tells The Independent.

“Since I’ve been in this mayor role, and I met with a lot of different energy, folks, and I’m just ecstatic that at least it we’re in the mix.”

The coal-fired plant in Courtright was closed in 2013 as part of the Ontario Liberal government’s plan to phase out coal power in the province. 

The Power Workers Union, farm groups and environmentalists advocated retooling the plant to use biomass from corn and wheat in the area or converting the plant to natural gas. But in 2016, the province ruled the plan out and closed the plant for good.

Demolition crews cleaned the last scraps of metal away from the site earlier this year. 

Agar says he’s been asking provincial officials what’s next and even said St. Clair Township would make OPG an offer for the land.

“I kind of put it to him, ‘Well, if you guys don’t want to do nothing, I’ll make an offer from the municipality and we’ll buy that property,’” Agar recounted. 

“He said, No, no, we actually have plans.’”

Agar says since then he has heard there was something in the works for the land, but until recently, the province did not give any hits what lay ahead.

The Minister suggested one of the possibilities for the site is smaller  nuclear units which the province is developing. Agar sees no issues with that noting nuclear energy does not have the stigma it once had. 

“It can be a number of different things, but it’s great for us, because, as you know, like, we lost a couple million dollars on just tax revenue, not counting the jobs…so it’d be a great thing for the community, for the whole county,” says Agar.

He added the Courtright site is cleared and ready for something new and St. Clair Township is about to start the expansion of its waste water treatment plant in the community. The province provided $33.8 million earlier this year for the project. 

Part of the push for the upgrade was the Crown Royal plant Diageo planned to build in the township. The company has since put the project on indefinite hold. Agar says any power project may be able to tap into that system in the future. 

The mayor says the province has not given a timeline for the review of the sites. 

Share This

Image
News

Potential for $3.5B investments in Lambton

February 16, 2025

Tariff threats holding companies back says SLEP leader Heather Wright/The Independent The head of Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership says there are nearly 50 organizations “actively considering” setting up shop here. But Matthew Slotwinski says the potential for massive tariffs from the US government is making companies nervous enough to put their plans on hold. Slotwinski provided his annual report to Lambton

Read More

Image
Front Page

No cash to help with Petrolia’s feral cats this year

February 16, 2025

Heather Wright/The Independent The Caregivers of Petrolia Ferals won’t be getting a grant from the Town of Petrolia this year.The group requested a $3,000 grant from the town, in a letter to council Feb. 10, which had provided cash to control the feral cat population in the past. In a letter sent to council, the organization said over 275 cats

Read More

Image
News

Cyclist arrested after fight with Sarnia police

February 16, 2025

Sarnia’s Police Chief says there could have been a very different outcome after police arrested a cyclist Saturday. An officer say a cyclist travelling south on the snow-covered road against traffic. The officer stopped the cyclist to speak with him through the cruiser passenger window. The cyclist tried to pedal away so the officer moved to stop him from moving

Read More

Image
News

Sarnia police chief wants single point of contact

February 16, 2025

Cathy Dobson/The Independent Sarnia’s police chief is calling for a more co-ordinated approach to help those facing homelessness, addiction and mental health issues. A single point of contact for the public and professionals trying to find shelter and support services for people living rough and seeking detox and medical services is needed, according to Chief Derek Davis. “Even something as

Read More