HawthorneVillager.com

While Pristine Power’s proposal to build a power plant in the east end was turned down by the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) years ago, the company is looking to secure its interests in Milton for the future.
The power project developer — which still owns lands at the terminus of Main Street, east of Fifth Line — is asking the Town to maintain the industrial designation on the property and include an electricity generating facility as a permitted use.

While the Province has announced that it’s looking at Mississauga, Oakville or Etobicoke as the next location for a power plant, the company wants to keep its Milton site available for a future opportunity, if it were to arise.

Although Pristine has asked the Town for the land use designation, Town staff indicated to the Champion that the request isn’t going to get very far.

“We’re telling them to go away,” said Town Manager of Planning Policy Bill Mann. “I think politically, we’ve got every indication that we shouldn’t be supporting (Pristine) in any manner.”

While the Province did approve an environmental assessment (EA) Pristine prepared for its proposal, Mann said the Town has concerns from an air quality and environmental perspective, among other things.

Penman said he thinks the EA will have to be revisited, since its results could be altered due to the increasing volumes of traffic on nearby Hwy. 401 and the fact a power plant is now being built just over the Milton border in Halton Hills.

The councillor asked Windrem if he thinks the EA results would stand the test of time, particularly in light of the new Halton Hills power plant, and Windrem said yes.