Update

Well, this is a shock…not only to me and you, but to Mayor Cowan. The Mayor has told me that the Township is sending out a press release explaining that the Ministry has been in agreement that the bio fuel facility should be located at a different site and he was told that it was in the works to be relocated and then the bomb was dropped last night. It seems to me that there is a disconnect between the Minister level and the engineer level and the engineers approved this without knowing that the Minister has said it could be relocated.

I know that everyone is interested in the appeal of this decision, but honestly we as a committee don’t have the resources to do that. The good news though is that the Township plans to appeal the decision on our behalf. “Our” being the residents of Elmira. So there will be an appeal filed by the Township.

More as I get it.

Hang in there!!

Dan

Dan Holt, Ph.D.
519 210 2121
lgr@epix.net


Posted in Appeal, Location, Ministry of the Environment, Politicians, Public Awareness, Todd Cowan, Woolwich Township Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Appeal

Below is the web site for the Environmental Review Tribunal which is apparently our last hope. Please check it out and share your thoughts and insights.

http://www.ert.gov.on.ca/english/guides/index.htm

Dan Holt, Ph.D.
519 210 2121
lgr@epix.net


Posted in Appeal, Ministry of the Environment, Public Awareness | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Get out the word

I think that Joan Coutu has a great suggestion. Call the radio:

http://www.goldhawk.com/

Spread the word that this is a travesty and should not stand…plus it makes no sense.

Dan

Dan Holt, Ph.D.
519 210 2121
lgr@epix.net

Posted in News, Public Awareness | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Bad News

Well, in a very surprising move the MoE has approved the construction of the Bio-En facility on Martins Lane in Elmira. Below is the web site:

http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTEzNjU3&statusId=MTczOTIy&language=en

We have 15 days to appeal the decision. Rally the troops. I’ll keep working on what exactly happened since the last news I heard last week was that they were still working to approve a different location.
Signs are still available on Church right next to Bolander Park on the porch of the yellow house.

Dan

Dan Holt, Ph.D.

519 210 2121
lgr@epix.net

Posted in Lawn Signs, Location, Ministry of the Environment, News | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

MOE approves Bio-En (via The Independent)

I just received this message from The Independent through Twitter:

Woolwich Bio-En biogas plant received approval from MOE today. See story in this week’s Elmira Independent.

There does not seem to be an article on The Elmira Independent Web site yet, and the MOE Web site still says “Under Technical Review”. The MOE Environmental registry page now has a server error message has been updated , so something is afoot…

Anyone have any more details?

–Bob.

Update 14 April 2012: The Elmira Independent article is Biogas plant receives approval.

The Woolwich Observer has an article Woolwich ponders appeal of biogas plant approval.

Posted in Ministry of the Environment, News | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Ontario Feed-In Tariff Forum, 3-4 April 2012

The Biogas plant that’s planned for Elmira will be funded by generate revenue through Ontario’s FIT program. For those interested, there will be a conference in Toronto on Tuesday and Wednesday, 3 and 4 April 2012.

From the Ontario Feed-In Tariff Forum Web site:

The Ontario Feed-In Tariff Forum is the annual, must-attend, conference for FIT contract holders, developers, manufacturers, suppliers, service providers and government. Now in its third year, this sell-out conference attracts industry leaders, policy advisors and key personnel from all the scheme agencies.

This year’s forum convenes in the wake of the FIT review which is expected to result in significant changes to critical aspects of the program. These changes will have broad impacts on the solar, wind, waterpower and bioenergy industries in the province. The forum will offer a unique opportunity to understand the new FIT landscape and the necessary steps for building a long-term renewable energy industry in Ontario.

On Wednesday, 4 April 2012 there is a forum stream dedicated to Bioenergy:

The Green Energy and Economy Act was greeted with enthusiasm by the agriculture and forestry sectors who saw the legislation as an opportunity for diversification, supplemental revenue streams, enhancing the viability of current businesses and driving the sectors towards innovation in environmental and waste management. While the sector offers the potential for a steady supply of dispatchable power that has additional environmental and GHG reduction benefits, bioenergy has not taken off under FIT with very few biogas and biomass projects in the pipeline.

This bioenergy stream will bring together industry, community and government experts from the agri-energy and forestry sectors to discuss the outcomes of the FIT review and outline what is necessary to make biogas and biomass viable industries and significant contributors to Ontario’s renewable energy supply mix.

The Forum will be held in the heart of downtown Toronto at:

The Metro Toronto Convention Center
South Building, 700 Level
222 Bremner Blvd. Toronto,Ontario, M5V 3L9
www.mtcc.com

Posted in Conferences | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Reply on location

Hi to all,
Below is the answer I just received from Mr. Keyvani at the Ministry of Environment. My email to him is first and then his reply today.

Dan

Hi,
Just a follow up to see if you can give me an answer to the question in the last email which is….has a decision been made regarding the location of the proposed Bio-En facility?

Thanks
Dan


Hi Mr. Holt,
As I said in my previous e-mail, it is the proponent’s decision to select the project location and the MOE through its review will ensure that the proposed project and its location meet the regulatory requirements and that the facility will operate in a way that is protective of human health and the environment. To date the Director has not made an approval decision regarding the proposed Woolwich Bio-En project; therefore neither the project nor the location has been approved yet.

Regards…Mohsen

Dan Holt, Ph.D.
519 210 2121
lgr@epix.net

Posted in Ministry of the Environment | Leave a comment