The clock is winding down over the future of the Calstock Power Plant. A 20 year agreement ends in June between the power plant and the Ontario Electricity Financial Corporation. Hearst Mayor Roger Sigouin says town council wants the provincial government to approve a contract extension with Atlantic Power despite their concern over high electricity rates. He adds the plant is extremely important to the region.
“That’s a big question mark is the industry in our region because everyone around the area uses the plant,” he said. “What’s going to happen with all of those mills without Atlantic Power in Play. It’s gotten everyone a little nervous here of what’s going to happen.”
Sigouin says town council is worried because the Provincial Government has not returned phone calls regarding the plants future.
“We haven’t heard anything from the Minister or his office,” he said. “We are waiting to see if they will be calling us back to set up that meeting.”
The Power Plant, which produces energy from wood waste, employs 20 full-time people but other secondary jobs in the lumber and sawmill industry in the Hearst region.
