THUNDER BAY -- Mayor Keith Hobbs is going to put more pressure on the province to get answers on the future of city’s coal-powered plant.
“Unless the Ontario Power Authority pulls a rabbit out of their hat, I don’t think they have a strong case to close the plant,” he said Wednesday.
Nearly two years ago the province announced that the Thunder Bay Generating Station would be switching from coal to natural gas to conform with the province’s long-term energy plan to get Ontario off of coal by the end of 2014.
Energy Minister Chris Bentley suspended the conversion of the city’s coal-powered plant to natural gas last month.
He said the OPA told him they are looking at other ways to provide the region's power needs and think they can do it and save hundreds of millions of dollars in the process.
He called the halt temporary.
Hobbs had met with Bentley to discuss the matter and was promised a response in December.
Hobbs still hasn’t heard anything.
“I was in conversations with Minister of Natural Resources Michael Gravelle yesterday,” Hobbs said.
“I don’t like to bother him right now, he has some challenges but he’s going to be on Minister Bentley as well. I’m personally very suspicious of the OPA and if they even have the figures to justify closing the plant or mothballing the plant. The Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association asked for those figures.”
Dalton McGuinty announced he would be stepping down as Ontario's premier in October. Hobbs said he’s still hopeful that he’ll get an answer from Bentley while the leadership race is going.
He added that they have received support from candidates but admitted that it was a bit sublime.
