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5 April 2006 -- The government of Ontario took another step in its plan to provide more energy for Ontario April 4 when Energy Minister Donna Cansfield helped launch the construction of Sithe Global Power's Goreway Drive Generating Station.
"We're building a new energy future that will keep the lights on and ensure our children have cleaner air," Cansfield said. "This facility, and others being built across Ontario, will allow us to maintain a stable supply of power while closing down our dirty, coal fired generating stations."
When it is completed, the facility will be capable of producing 875 MW of electricity, enough to power about 330,000 homes. The project will provide 500 MW of electricity by the summer of 2007 and the remaining 375 MW will be ready by the summer of 2008. It will be one of the largest combined cycle natural gas generating stations in Canada. The project will create about 900 construction jobs and about 30 full-time positions.
"We are honored and pleased that the Government of Ontario and the Ontario Power Authority have placed their confidence in Sithe Global Power to help meet the electricity supply needs of this fast-growing region of the province," said Bruce Wrobel, Sithe Global Power's CEO.
The Sithe plant is being built to meet a directive issued by the government to the Ontario Power Authority to address a vital need for electricity in the western part of greater Toronto area. This directive is part of the McGuinty government's plan to close all the coal fired generating stations in Ontario by the end of 2009 and replace them with cleaner sources of electricity. The Lakeview coal-fired plant in south Mississauga closed in April 2005. It was among the largest polluters in the Toronto area.
"The Goreway natural gas-fired power plant will help Ontario to phase out it's dirty coal-fire power plants, reduce air pollution and protect public health," said Jack Gibbons, Chair of the Ontario Clean Air Alliance.
The McGuinty government has signed contracts for 18 renewable energy projects that will add about 1,300 MW of clean energy to the system by 2008. These projects were the result of two successful Requests for Proposals operated by the government.
The government has begun projects to bring online over 11,000 MW of new, lower emissions electricity generation. The government also recently introduced a Standard Offer Contract program, which is expected to add another 1,000 MW of renewable energy sources over the next 10 years.
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