Ontario Power Authority (OPA) says the York Energy Centre (YEC) is on track to provide a reliable energy supply for York Region, with a target for commercial operation by mid 2012. YEC is a 393MW natural gas-fired electricity generating facility that will provide power during peak demand periods in northern York Region. It was proposed in response to OPA’s 2008 Request for Proposals for northern York Region.

“The province has approved a regulation that streamlines land-use
planning approvals by exempting the facility from the Planning Act. This
exemption is needed to allow the development of new, clean-burning
natural gas-generated electricity in an area of rapid growth,” said OPA.

OPA also says electricity demand in York Region has been forecast to
grow by three times the provincial average, meaning current supply in
the region is insufficient to meet its increasing needs. YEC will run
about 10% of the time to provide on-demand power to help the region meet
periods of high energy demand. The project completed the environmental
assessment requirement and received Ministry of Environment approval for
an electricity project of this type.

YEC will create up to 200 jobs during peak construction, says OPA, and
is “an important part of the Open Ontario plan to ensure a sustainable
supply of reliable energy for this rapidly growing region”.

CLICK HERE for York Energy Centre.