There was an article in the Toronto Star the other day about the incinerator which is taking shape just south of the 401 highway in our municipality of Clarington. Construction on the first incinerator to be built in the GTA in 22 years is moving along and the projected start-up will be in the Spring of 2014, just over a year away. The Star article includes these paragraphs:
When the first puffs of smoke emerge from the single smokestack of the Clarington incinerator as it fires up for testing next spring, the Mayor Adrian Foster says a tear will roll down his cheek.
“Even if it’s mostly water vapour coming out of that stack, we still have another stack at the lake, which I don’t think is anyone’s vision for their waterfront,” said the Clarington mayor, who campaigned against the controversial plant during the 2010 election. “We lost the fight,” he said. “Moving ahead, we just want to make sure it’s as clean and as safe as possible.”
The Durham-York Energy Centre will convert 140,000 metric tonnes of post-recycled garbage into 20 megawatts of electricity annually. It was originally projected to cost $272.4 million. But a Durham region report last year tacked on an additional $11.5 million to cover inflation and other costs, including utilities and HST.
Doesn't this make you feel all warm inside? And do you want to bet that within five to ten years the trucks will be rolling down one of the busiest stretches of one of North America's busiest highways loaded with Toronto's garbage? Sometimes I refer to TO as the Big Smoke. It will be more accurate to call Clarington the Big Smoke.
Many St. Paul's members attended public hearings on the incinerator, and the majority came away opposed. After thoughtful consideration some became quite involved in the opposition. Most of us saw this as an opportunity to live out the phrase "to live with respect in Creation" in the creed, not to mention protecting our lungs. Clarington has one of the highest rates of asthma and other respiratory illnesses in the province.
Anyone else see the article? As the incinerator goes up, where are your thoughts?
Just another example of big money having it's way regardless of the wishes of the population.
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