Fined for making unauthorized changes
Portlands Energy Centre Inc. was fined $25,000 for making unauthorized changes at the Napanee Generating Station, a natural gas plant on Loyalist Parkway. The company modified the plant's cooling tower without first getting approval from the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks (MECP).
Between November 2021 and February 2022, the company increased the tower's height to reduce a fog-like plume affecting road visibility. Though they submitted an application for the required Environmental Compliance Approval (ECA) in January 2022, the changes were made before approval, which arrived in June 2022.
The ministry's Environmental Investigations and Enforcement Branch launched a probe, leading to Portlands' conviction in May 2024. Along with the fine, the company must pay a $6,250 victim surcharge and has 90 days to comply.