NDP leader questions TBGS biomass supply

April 21, 2014, Toronto, Ont. – Ontario NDP leader Andrea
Horwath is calling on the provincial government to review its planned biomass
supply for the Thunder Bay Generating Station.

In the Ontario legislature last week, Ms. Horwath asked
Premier Kathleen Wynne about the energy situation in Thunder Bay, stating:  “… to add insult to injury, a government that
reneged on a promise to convert the Thunder Bay generating station to natural
gas is now refusing to allocate sufficient biomass supply to enable the plant
to provide the energy that Thunder Bay needs. Does the government have any plan
whatsoever to ensure that Thunder Bay residents and businesses have the energy
they critically need?”

In response to the question by Ms. Horwath, Ontario Minister
of Energy Bob Chiarelli said that concerns from the Ontario Power Authority had
been addressed regarding the biomass supply, and that the plan had received an
endorsement from the Society of Energy Professionals.

Ms. Horwath subsequently continued her criticism of the
plan, saying that the ‘partial’ biomass conversion in Thunder Bay would not accommodate
current energy needs, let alone any increase in energy consumption caused by
the Ring of Fire mining development. However, the Energy Minister once again
stated that, based on meetings had with community and energy stakeholders, that
the level of biomass use at TBGS would meet demand.