HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-04-12, Page 10fel
10 Signal Star • Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Energy Generating Project brings possible risks to the environment
11116 Dr. Stan Spacek's passionate and
thorough presentation to Council,
in search for accountability
from NRStor's latest project
Kathleen Smith
Goderich Signal Star
In September 2016, the
Ontario Energy Minister, due
to an abundance of projects,
cancelled all Energy Gener-
ating Projects submitted
under the Green Energy Act.
One slipped through the
cracks, and over a year ago,
the NRStor Energy Generat-
ing Project Proposal was pre-
sented to Goderich Town
Council.
Dr. Stan Spacek, Vice Pres-
ident and Treasurer of the
Maitland Valley Family
Health Team, presented to
Council last week on Mon-
day, April 3, arguing against
the proposed Energy Gener-
ating Project.
"This has been very taxing
for me, the process of col-
lecting information. I have
lost 11 pounds since Janu-
ary. I have lost countless
nights of sleep. The matter
that I bring to you today,
weighs heavy on me, and I
thank you for the opportu-
nity to present today," said
Dr. Spacek in his opening
remarks.
Looking for accountability
to the selective information
presented by NRStor to
Council, Dr. Spacek gave a
passionate and thorough
presentation, aiming for a
motion from Goderich Town
Council to rescind their sup-
port that was lent to the pro-
ject in its infancy.
"I do this because it is the
right thing to do for the com-
munity. I care for my com-
munity. I want to advocate
for what is right for the peo-
ple and the institutions in
our town," stated Dr. Spacek
in an explanation as to
where his passion for the
project develops.
Claiming the NRStor pro-
ject as a risk to the commu-
nity and the environment,
Dr. Spacek thoroughly criti-
cized a letter,
•
1
Par ridge
Your bridge to smarter living
which selectively informed
members of Council on the
project, and was sent from
NRStor to propose the
Energy Generating Project.
Dr. Spacek did his
research and discovered that
the proposed site for the
energy plant is not only near
residential streets (including
a daycare), near a church,
and also on land that is sub-
ject to erosion, but there is
an endangered snake living
in the nearby river.
Dr. Spacek ran into a road-
block, and that was regard-
ing how difficult it has been
attempting to get a hold of a
politician or member of the
Ministry of Environment
and, short of begging, asked
the Town Council to assist in
this endeavor.
"I don't think NRStor actu-
ally knows and certainly
their environmental assess-
ment makes no mention of
the fact that there is an
endangered snake that lives
in this river, right on the
bank. I think this needs to be
brought to the attention of
the Ministry of.Environ-
ment," explained Dr. Spacek.
Finding issues with the
environmental vetting of this
project, Dr. Spacek spoke
about the inherent risks with
energy plants in sensitive
environmental areas, and
the long term consequences
and risks of such a project.
The proposed technology
for this Energy Generating
Project by NRStor, was
summed up as compressing
and storing air in the salt
caverns. The air is later
released, turning turbines,
generating electricity, simi-
lar to the hydroelectric dams
that hold water.
Drawing information from
the only two facilities in the
world of the proposed pro-
ject, Dr. Spacek was able to
inform members of Council
that "the cutting edge tech-
nology" that was included in
the information provided by
NRStor in the original pro-
posal, was quite' the
opposite.
One facility in Germany
was built in 1978 and the
other in Alabama in 1992.
Both facilities have become
marginalized due to other
'technologies being intro-
duced and contributing to
the grid.
Kathleen Smith/Goderich Signal Star
Dr. Stan Spacek gave a passionate speech on caring enough on a
particular issue, to fight for change.
The energy generating
plant or facility would be
around the size of a football
field, be fully automated,
and would not produce jobs
for members in the
community.
The lack of positive
economic impact coupled
with a sensitive environmen-
tal area, Dr. Spacek argued
that the Council should be
completely informed, and
re -consider their support on
such a project. See page 11
for more on this story.
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