Nuclear project dwarfs Northern river power
Ontario has to decide if it favours nuclear power generation or not.
The headline announcement of a 3,500 Megawatt nuclear generating station for Ontario (The Toronto Star, March 14, 2008) makes a farce of destroying hundreds of waterfalls in Northern Ontario for the sake of meeting the province's increasing demand for electricity.
Why destroy all these beautiful natural resources when the province is set on nuclear energy?
Timmins is a good example of this dilemma.
It is slated to lose High Falls on the Grassy River, one of the most beautiful natural resources to be found within the city boundaries of any city or town in Ontario.
It is to be turned into to a small, private four-megawatt hydro generating station.
Both the 3,500-MW nuclear plant and the four-MW High Falls facility will feed power into the Ontario electrical grid system.
Are we going to destroy an awesome natural scenic waterfall with tremendous potential for both ecotourism and outdoor recreation opportunities in return for so little comparative power?
The harnessing of small waterfalls in Northern Ontario was proposed by the Ontario government four years ago, as a clean, environmentally-friendly method of collecting power from renewable energy sources and to replace our coal-fired generators.
Almost all of the 190 water sites identified are in Northern Ontario and are less than 10 Megawatts in size.
Wilderness canoeing organizations across the province are dismayed at the plan; particularly now that a nuclear giant is in the works that will dwarf all of the new waterfall projects.
I feel the loss of High Falls on the Grassy River in Timmins will be the most heartbreaking loss of all.
It is within the city boundaries and only 23 kilometres from downtown Timmins.
It should be preserved for future generations and made into a conservation area with good access for all to enjoy.
All concerned citizens in the Timmins area should plan to attend a public meeting to be announced this spring.
The meeting is a requirement of the environmental screening process now in effect.
When the date is announced, come out and express your opinions about keeping High Falls in its natural environment.
For more information visit our website: www.savehighfalls.com.
Grant Tunnicliffe, on behalf of
Friends of High Falls
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