TransCanada Energy (TCE) is building a 683-megawatt natural gas-fired power plant at the corner of Steeles Ave. and Sixth Line South. According to TCE, the Halton Hills Generating Station (HHGS) will use state-of-the-art low emissions technology and have the capacity to generate enough power for approximately 600,000 homes. TCE is targeting the summer of 2010 for its completion.

Halton Hills council cleared the way to allow building permits to be issued for the generating station at a special council meeting in November.

There will be a phased approach to construction with the main building construction first, followed by the stormwater management facility, which will handle not only stormwater from the HHGS property but other industrial development in the Corridor, and then the landscaping.

According to Janice Badgley of TCE, site alteration occurred between October and December, followed by:

Phase 2 (December until April): mobilization, site preparation and piling. Piling is the placement of vertical steel beams into the ground, and will serve as the foundations for the generating equipment and associated structures. The driving of the piles could take up to five months and local residents have been warned that they may notice increased levels of noise and vibration.

Phase 3 (February to October): underground installations

Phase 4 (April to February 2010): above ground installations

Phase 5 (August 2009 to May 2010): testing/commissioning and final completion.

Badgley said a community liaison committee has been set up to act as a liaison between the community and HHGS. It will bring community concerns to the attention of HHGS and take information about HHGS back to the community. The committee membership is made up of representatives from the following sectors: business/industry; community/ environment; residents; government and HHGS. There are representatives from the Hornby Area Rate Payers, POWER (Protect Our Water and Environmental Resources), Halton Hills TEAC (Town Environmental Advisory Group), Town of Milton, Town of Halton Hills, Halton Region and Conservation Halton.

"We are still in the process of filling vacancies for representatives in the business/industry and residents sectors," said Badgley. For details contact Badgley at 905-832-7333, 1-800-827-5094 or e-mail janice_badgley@transcanada.com

Halton Hills Hydro has reached an agreement in principle on the price of a 4.3-acre portion of the property for a future transformer station. The purchase and transfer of land will take place in the spring of 2010.

TCE will dedicate, at no cost, the eight-acre river valley/natural feature portion of the property to the Town.

TCE also paid the Town $1.5 million (plus an additional $39,647 in interest payments)-- that's the amount the Town paid to Halton Region to speed up the water and wastewater servicing of the Corridor from Fifth Line to Trafalgar Rd.

TCE will pay an additional $250,000 community benefit pledge when the stormwater agreement is approved (April 2008).

TCE has made a commitment to the Town of Halton Hills to ensure the building contractor includes local businesses on its bid lists.

Financially the construction is expected to generate $300,000 in development charges and $1 to $1.5 million annually in municipal taxes.

--Cynthia Gamble can

be reached at

cgamble@independentfreepress.com