Environmental Guru Help Needed

A reader sent me a note about the East Windsor Cogeneration Centre. In case you did not know what it is, it is

• "a proposed 84 MW natural gas-fired cogeneration facility using modern technology to generate reliable clean power for over 80,000 homes in the Windsor area and steam for Ford's Windsor operations. The project will encompass approximately 1.5 acres of industrial land, located adjacent to the existing Ford powerhouse and will be equipped with modern emission controls to meet all federal and provinical air quality standards."

I am little bit confused about that statement since their press release states:

• "The EWCC will provide the Ontario electricity system with an annual average of 84 MW of electricity for delivery to the Hydro-One Networks transmission system."

So is the plant for Windsor power generation or just to supply power for the grid?

Julia Ciccaglione, spokeswoman for the project said

• "that there are plans to establish at $300,000 sustainability fund to support environmental initiatives in Windsor."

Eddie Francis seems to like the project. In a press release, he stated

• "This project has significant benefits for our community," said Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis. "It creates substantial construction jobs and adds long term efficiencies to the existing industrial base in the City of Windsor. Its power and heat generation technology is entirely in line with our City's need for environmentally friendly industrial ventures."

Everything sounds so environmentally wholesome that I was surprised to read in their "Air Quality Assessment" report:

• "Appendix D Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement Notification Form
  
  The Canada-U.S. Air Quality Agreement
  Transboundary Notification under Article V
  
  
  Under Article V of the Canada/U.S. Air Quality Agreement, Canada is obligated to notify the U.S. of any proposed actions, activities, or projects which, if carried out, would be likely to cause significant transboundary air pollution. At present, we are providing only notification of such actions under within 100 km of the Canada-U.S. border. This form provides the information to fulfil Canada’s obligation under Article V of the Canada/U.S. Air Quality Agreement. The form needs to be completed for any NEW air pollution source located within 100 km of the Canada/U.S. border that is expected to emit greater than 90 tonnes per year of any one of the common air pollutants: sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, total suspended particulates and volatile organic compounds, where VOC’s are defined as compounds containing at least one carbon atom, excluding carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane and chlorofluorocarbons. Notification is also required for major modifications of existing facilities which would result in an increase of 40 or more tonnes per year of one or more common pollutants. With respect to hazardous air pollutants, Notification is required if a new source, or a modification of an existing source, results in a release of greater than 1 tonne per year of any one hazardous air pollutant. For the purposes of Notification, a hazardous air pollutant is any substance in the National Pollutant Release Inventory.
  
  If the proposed facility does not meet the Notification criteria, there is no requirement to complete and return the form to Environment Canada.
  
  What are the estimated annual quantities of the following pollutants released to the atmosphere (tonnes per year)?
  
  SO2 11.2 tonnes/year
  PM 35.8 tonnes/year
  VOCs 83 tonnes/year
  CO 228 tonnes/year
  NOx 385 tonnes/year
  (equivalent to NO2)
  
  Note: These are maximum annual rates, assuming 24 hr/day, 365 day/yr operation at 100% load for the worst-case operating scenario of the facility. The annual VOCs provided above, conservatively represent the total Unburned Hydrocarbons (UHC-total). The total annual VOCs released are estimated at 8.6 tonnes per year.
  
  List hazardous air pollutants with emissions estimate (tonnes/year) for any hazardous pollutants with expected annual emission rates of greater than 1 tonne per year:
  
  Formaldehyde 2.3 tonnes/year
  Ethane 1.5 tonnes/year
  Pentane 1.2 tonnes/year
  
  Note: These are maximum annual rates.

I have no idea what this all means. Are there problems or not for those who like to breathe clean air? I have no idea, if this plant is producing energy for the grid, why it has to be located in Windsor. Perhaps someone out there can explain this all to me.

Oh and if there is a concern:

• "If, after reviewing the ERR and supporting documents, any individual or group feels that significant environmental concerns remain unresolved, they may request that the Director of the Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch of the Ministry of the Environment make an order for the project to be elevated to an Individual Environmental Assessment under the Environmental Assessment Act. Elevations must be made in accordance with the provisions set out in the Ministry of the Environment’s Environmental Screening Process for Electricity Projects. Elevation Requests must be received by the Director, Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch, Ministry of the Environment, 12A Floor, 2 St. Clair Avenue West, Toronto, Ontario M4V 1P5, by May 19 2007, with copies sent to EWCLP and their environmental consultants."

Thanks for your assistance