Running Out of Steam

It's outdated but still a familiar expression.

Wednesday morning we had an interruption.

Hydro One's timeline for need to increase the power supply was 2006

In 2007 , Aurora Cable battled Mormac for months for wind turbines for a back-up supply to protect equipment from damage during brown-outs; the first sign of supply shortage.

It's summer 2010.

Four years past the deadline. No peaker plant in place yet.

Tuesday, Aurora council discussed separate objectives for the public and private sector.

We directed staff to ensure conservation measures in the building proposed for the corner of Centre and Yonge Street. Very righteous. Very proper.

The question before us was an application for a change in land use.But no matter.

Later in the same agenda, we debated a diesel fueled generator for back up supply of energy at the town hall during a possible emergency. Natural gas had been rejected previously. Green energy was never an option.

We installed natural gas in Church Street school as opposed to a pump drawing heat from the ground .

Yes, I know installation is more expensive. We had a grant in hand for the project. Energy from the earth contributes nothing to the carbon footprint.

These were two conspicuous opportunities to make a difference. We didn't take them.

We have a Citizens Environmental Advisory Committee.

We re-named Public Works, Environment and Infrastructure Department.

We have had an environmental engineer on the payroll for three years to "identify" environmental initiatives.

None thus far identified. I've been asking.

Should an interruption of power happen,as it well may, in fact has already and computers go down, memory may be lost.

It would certainly be an emergency of catastrophic proportions.

OF OUR OWN MAKING.