ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS OPPOSE GAS GENERATORS

One year after McMaster University's plan for gas powered electricity generators next to Cootes Drive was revealed, environmental groups are joining the project's opponents.

Angela Bischoff, director of Ontario Clean Air Alliance, sent a letter to McMaster president David Farrar and the university's board of governors dated March 16 requesting the institution "cancel its plans to build (a) new polluting gas power plant to meet its electricity needs on hot summer days when our air-conditioners are running full-out."

Representatives of Ontario Clean Air Alliance and Hamilton 350 were also expected to attend a Monday,

March 20 MacDivest student rally launching a hunger strike against the gas powered generators and university investment in fossil fuels. The Dundas Star News broke the story in March 2022, and subsequently published at least 11 more stories during the next 12 months, detailing the university's plans, student and faculty opposition, environmental impacts, concerns of neighbours and the approval process. McMaster's Net Zero Carbon Roadmap report states the generators will add at least 415 tonnes of additional greenhouse gas emissions per 60 hours of operation. The generators are expected to operate at peak times and run between 40 and 100 hours a year.

McMaster administration has said it will use money it saves on electricity charges, from the generators project, to fund green energy projects. The project has already received site plan and building permit approvals from the City of Hamilton.

Despite city staff concerns around McMaster's plan to increase greenhouse gas emissions, a spokesperson said the municipality has no authority to enforce limits on emissions.

The project still requires final approval from the Ontario's Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, which regulates peak electricity generators, before they can be used to produce electricity.

Don McLean of Hamilton 350 pointed out the electricity payments McMaster is trying to avoid are "payments to the public purse. They are used to keep the lights on in Ontario."

In her letter, Clean Air Alliance's director Bischoff states Ontario has cleaner, lower cost options for McMaster to meet its electricity needs.