District Energy System
Not one more tonne!
That was the rallying cry that resonated throughout the City as Mayor and Council prepared to vote on their plan for a wood burning energy plant that was to be constructed directly below our homes, the Sacred Heart Church and elementary school, Children's Choice Daycare and the Learning Difficulty Centre.
As residents who already deal with an overly polluted airshed, we took great exception to this plan. Without proper consultation we were advised that the location for an energy system would be directly below our neighbourhood. The energy plant would not only contribute additional particulate into the city's airshed, but would also require the delivery of waste material creating additional dust and noise. A stack would reach to the height of the bank, thus sending emissions directly into the school yard.
The Millar Addition had enough of poor urban planning and so had many others within the City. We organized and within days had hundreds of signatures on a petition protesting the District Energy System (DES). Macc had many meetings. Eventually a recommendation went to City council for approval and about 400 people showed up in protest. Finally the issue came before Council just before midnight, and the location of the plant was scrapped.
Currently, the City has not advised of any particular plans for another DES although discussions may still be in the works. Macc feels that no additional particulate should be allowed into the Prince George airshed regardless of the purpose until the City can demonstrate that it is removing a significant amount in the process. The time has come for the City's air quality issue to be taken seriously and for proper planning that focuses industrial development outside of the bowl.
Macc continues to monitor the situation and will post any new information on this page. You can also visit the
PACHA website for additional air quality information.
