Town continues to work towards Summit Energy resolution
13 hours ago
By Stacey Roy
Efforts to keep Summit Energy’s pyrolysis plant in Smiths Falls continues this week by town staff.
Mayor Shawn Pankow was unable to provide clear information as to how staff is working to alleviate the burden imposed by the Ontario Municipal Board appeal filed last week by Mark Greer. However, Jake Jenkins of Summit Energy noted the town is working on some ideas, which he hopes to hear an update to by week’s end.
“Like anything else in business, being the first is important. I’ve got to have that,” said Jake Jenkins of Summit Energy.
If the OMB appeal does move forward, Jenkins has made it clear it would have to find another community to start his business.
“Like anything else in business, being the first is important. I’ve got to have that,” said Jake Jenkins of Summit Energy.“I can’t wait for the OMB,” Jenkins confirmed. “I have multiple offers in both Ontario and New York.”
He wouldn’t disclose exact locations, but did say these offers come from eastern and central Ontario. Jenkins said if the company does move forward with their New York option, the American plant would come before Canada’s putting them at risk of losing their spot at the first commercial enterprise in the nation.
Pankow points out there are no guarantees for Summit Energy that their new community wouldn’t trigger an OMB appeal. He reiterates his offer of last week to help Greer find his answers through other means apart from the OMB.
“I’d certainly be willing to do whatever we could do to facilitate that,” the mayor added. “There is still a united interest in moving this forward.”
The mayor said he feels many of Greer’s concerns would be answered through the Environmental Assessment process when experts from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC) would be brought in to assess the fine details of the proposed plant. The zoning process simply looks at the former plant being a suitable home for Summit Energy. It is this suitability that the OMB appeal will be focusing on should they hear the case this year.
“Unfortunately, this is the process. I would have loved to have MOECC approval before it came to council,” Pankow added. “Maybe he [Greer] doesn’t have the same confidence that we do in the MOECC.”
Greer remains resolute in his decision to move forward with the appeal and looks forward to the town’s response within the 15-day time frame allotted.
“It’s definitely not being pulled. There’s something not right here,” Greer said.
The appeal outlines concerns around environmental impacts and the appropriateness of the site near residential areas and a public school. Last week Greer received a personal call from Pankow (following meetings between the town and Summit Energy) inquiring about his concern over the proposal. Greer has heard rumours of similar plants looking at the former Hershey factory and is waiting for confirmation that another rezoning process would have to be held in order for something like Summit Energy to be brought in before removing his appeal.
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