Edmonton Power is proposing a $90 million expansion and upgrade to the Rossdale gas plant, which will provide an additional 170 MW of electrical capacity. Part or all of the 170 MW could be achieved through energy conservation and energy efficiency measures. A modest component of the new capacity could also be generated through renewable energy resources. Furthermore, any changes to the Rossdale gas plant should, at a minimum, be designed to accommodate a district energy system that would achieve much better efficiencies and improved long term economics by fully utilizing what would otherwise be waste heat.
As members of national climate change initiatives, and having made associated commitments for greenhouse gas reductions, it behooves the City of Edmonton and Epcor to carefully consider and then implement measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is particularly true where opportunities can be pursued for the same general level of investment — investment that would also yield improved long-term economic benefits, greater benefits in terms of regional air pollution, and higher levels of job creation for the local economy.
This paper is a preliminary analysis only, but points to the need to consider alternative options in more depth. It is recommended that the Rossdale expansion plans be put on hold until a wider range of technical and public consultation has been completed. This consultation could include establishment of a public advisory committee (as desired by local stakeholders) that would report to City Council, Epcor's single shareholder, on the results of detailed analyses of the feasibility and desirability of optional approaches.
