Greenwash Watch: Greenwrapping: Solar Panels on a New Gas Fired Generator
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto 
on 01.12.07
Nobody in Toronto wants the Portland Energy Centre, a C$730 million dollar, 550 megawatt natural gas fired power plant being installed because the Province didn't plan for the needs of Toronto and now would rather spend money on this instead of conservation- that could buy a lot of CFL's. The Mayor, the Waterfront Revitalization people trying to build a park , and the neighbouring citizens don't want it. The plant will add Nitrogen Oxides and particulates to residential and recreational areas and of course, CO2. Thus what can we call it when we hear that PEC will supply "2.4 million dollars worth of land" for a 1 megawatt solar research facility built by Arise Technologies and the U of T? Greenwrapping, the idea that you can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear by wrapping it in solar goodness and teaching the kids.
"U of T students and staff at ARISE will use the facility to conduct research on renewable energysystems and technologies. This will help develop the utilization of PV systems for commercial and utility scale systems." We thought that most of that kind of research was done, but evidently there is still room: "“This is an excellent opportunity for our students to get first hand exposure to commercial scale solar electric systems”
“This project will establish Toronto and Ontario as a world leader in solar energy research and development and education,” said Energy Minister Dwight Duncan. “Solar and other forms of renewable energy are an important part of Ontario’s energy future.” -especially if we can wrap our new gas and nuclear plants in them. Why not stick a turbine on top? Sorry, Dwight, you will have to do better than this. :;Press Release PDF from Arise and PEC; via ::ecosherpa
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Lloyd, nobody ever wants any kind of power station near them -- even wind's a hard sell -- but everyone wants the power. Nobody wants transmission lines, either.
As if often the case things are not always as they appear. I myself would prefer that Ontario would not require yet another power plant however I believe it really is required - if for no other reason then poor governmental planning and expected power shortfalls in the coming years.
It's true that a lot of energy could be saved by conservation but that overlooks the fact that the population in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is growing significantly. Also, given the geographic location of the powerplant and prevailing wind patterns most of the pollution produced will be distributed over Lake Ontario and not over populated areas.
It's also a cleaner solution then the now decommissioned coal powerplant that exists on the southern shores of Toronto. I only wish that I can see our other huge coal powerplants in Nanticoke and elsewhere will be decommissioned sooner rather than later.