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Portlands Energy Centre Inc. has been convicted for unauthorized changes to equipment at the Napanee Generating Station, a natural gas power plant located on Loyalist Parkway. The company was fined $25,000 plus a $6,250 victim surcharge for making modifications without the proper approval from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP).
Between November 14, 2021, and February 14, 2022, Portlands altered the cooling tower at the plant, increasing its height to address a fog-like plume that was causing dangerous visibility conditions on nearby roads. However, these changes were made before receiving the necessary amendment to their Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA).
Portlands Energy Centre acquired the facility in 2020 and had been working with MECP and the Ministry of Transportation since July 2020 to develop a plan to fix the visibility issue. Despite submitting an ECA amendment application in January 2022, they proceeded with the alterations ahead of official approval, which came later in June 2022.
The ministry’s Environmental Investigations and Enforcement Branch launched an investigation, which led to the charges and the May 2024 conviction. The company has 90 days to pay the fines.
Written by Emily Chatwood
