| Hearn Generating Station |
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The site is located at 440 Unwin Avenue in Toronto's Portlands area. The approximate latitude and longitude of the site are: N43° 38.730' W79° 20.105'. It is directly south of the foot of Carlaw Ave, across the shipping channel. PLANT HISTORY According to the Canadian Electrical Association the RL Hearn station was Canada's first 100 MW steam turbo-generator set. It was commissioned in 1951. The plant originally burned Coal which was brought on site via ships from the St Lawrence Seaway . In 1971 the plant was converted to burn Natural Gas , with some units remaining as having the option to burn coal. This plant was phased out of operation in July 1983, both due to concerns about air pollution in Toronto and abundant energy supply in the province. In June 1987, elected members of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party were pushing to have the Hearn re-opened as a natural gas power plant. {Link without Title} In 1988, the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party were calling for scrubbers on the Hearn to stop contributing to acid rain in Toronto. {Link without Title} The site was designated (along with all other exiting publicly owned electrical generating stations during deregulation by the Mike Harris and Ernie Eves led Ontario Progressive Conservative Party ) as protected for future electricity development. Former premier, Mike Harris later mentioned his plans to build the Portlands Energy Centre on the site of the Hearn, but the actual proposed site sits next to Hearn. In 2002 , it was announced by OPG that Studios of America would be leasing the property of the former generating station and has plans to construct a 300,000 sq. foot multipurpose film production studio on the site, due for completion in 20??. Recent Changes The Ontario government announced in April 2005 that the Portlands Energy Centre would not be part of approved 2,500MW of added new power production in Ontario coming online in the next few years. However, in February 2006 this decision has been reversed, and there is a new plan emerging that would see a new plant built next to the Hearn plant. Toronto mayor David Miller is attempting to have Hearn restored in some capacity to provide that power rather than build a second plant, while nearby residents appear to be opposing any power generation in the area. The Independent Electricity System Operator is threatenning rolling black-outs in Toronto if 250MW are not added by 2008, with an additional 250MW required by 2010. SEE ALSO
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