NORFOLK County council supports development of an electrical power station at Nanticoke.

A new facility on the site of the former Ontario Hydro coal-fired plant would bring many jobs to the area, Simcoe Coun. Doug Brunton said last Tuesday.

And the Nanticoke site has transmission lines ready to distribute power north, east and west and even south under Lake Erie to the United States.

Ontario’s demand for electricity is forecast to increase by 75 per cent by 2050.

Nanticoke is one of three sites under consideration by Ontario Power Generation as potential sites for new electricity development, possibly including nuclear power.

The other two sites are Lambton and Wesleyville.

At Coun. Brunton’s suggestion, Norfolk will send letters to Haldimand council, Minister of Energy and Electrification Stephen Lecce and Minister of Indigenous Affairs Greg Rickford.

Coun. Brunton said he had talked to Haldimand Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley and she believed her councillors were fully behind a new electrical station for Nanticoke.

Mayor Amy Martin and Port Dover Coun. Adam Veri voted against sending letters.

Mayor Martin told council she was happy to see Nanticoke under consideration for a new electrical station but she didn’t want to weigh in before Haldimand council consults the public and takes a stand on the issue.

In an email to the Maple Leaf, Coun. Veri said his thoughts were generally in line with Mayor Martin’s.

“I’m not against the letter but I don’t think Norfolk council should be passing resolutions on an issue that Haldimand council hasn’t dealt with yet,” he wrote.

“I’m also reluctant to offer comment on Haldimand County issues without an express request from Haldimand council.

“If Haldimand started endorsing (or condemning) Norfolk County issues without council’s input or request, I wouldn’t be overly happy about that.

“I understand Coun. Brunton spoke to Mayor Bentley and that’s fine but if the mayor wants something from Norfolk County council, I would assume the correct way to request it would be to go through the mayor or to contact council as a whole.”

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Originally published December 24, 2024