Atura Power says it will continue to explore opportunities at the former Lambton Generating Station (LGS) site.
In a statement sent to Sarnia News Today, the company said the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) didn't accept their proposal for a new natural gas power plant in St. Clair Township.
"While the Riverside Generating Station project was not selected through the IESO's recent procurement process, Atura Power remains appreciative of St. Clair Township, Indigenous communities, and industry groups for their strong support and collaboration," the statement read.
"Atura Power respects the IESO’s competitive process to ensure Ontario secures reliable and cost-effective electricity to meet evolving needs. The company will continue to assess future opportunities for the riverside site in alignment with system needs," Atura Power added.
St. Clair Township Mayor Jeff Agar reacted to the decision last week.
"I would like to give a recent update on information about the Riverside Generating Station 500 megawatt, 2 billion dollar Atura proposed build on the vacant OPG (Ontario Power Generation) site in St. Clair," Agar wrote in a Facebook post. "The proposal has been turned down by the IESO board in Toronto. I would like to give my sincere thanks to the Atura team, our St. Clair staff and council for the many hours that have been put into this proposal. I have been pursuing a use for this site for many years."
Agar said tax dollars, good paying jobs and spinoff work are lost as a result of the decision.
"In my mind, it was a good time for our provincial government to make it right after the previous government shut down our coal-fired plant," Agar said. "I am very disappointed that a few board members of the IESO said no to this project. They most likely do not have an idea of where St. Clair Township is located."
According to Agar, Atura wasn't the only rejected proposal.
"We had two more gas expansions and a battery storage that our council has supported with a municipal support resolution. These were also turned down. The three that were approved were two battery storage projects near Toronto and one in Kenora," Agar said.
Agar said he approached a minister in Toronto three years ago and said the municipality would purchase the former LGS property and open it up to business if there were no plans for it.
He said he plans to keep fighting to bring the former OPG site back to life.
Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries Sam Oosterhoff announced on June 12 in London, the province had secured 640 megawatts (MW) of new electricity capacity through three selected projects under the capacity stream of the Second Long-Term Request for Proposals (LT2).
These projects were awarded 20-year contracts, with commercial operations expected to begin by May 1, 2030.
With additional procurement rounds still expected, Oosterhoff said they were going to "keep that momentum going" by advancing "the largest energy expansion plans in our history."
"New nuclear, new transmission infrastructure, new energy efficiency programs, putting money back into the pockets of hard working families and investments in emerging clean energy technologies," Oosterhoff said.
