Item - 2016.PE13.4

The Parks and Environment Committee recommends that:

1.  City Council request the Director, Environment and Energy, in consultation with the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, to propose a net-zero Community Energy Plan for the Mount Dennis community and report to the Parks and Environment Committee in the first half of 2017 on the proposed plan.

2.  City Council direct the Director, Environment and Energy to forward this report to the Ontario Minister of the Environment and Climate Change and to the Member of Provincial Parliament for York South−Weston.

Community groups in Weston and Mount Dennis have voiced concerns over the Metrolinx/Crosslinx Transit Solutions initial proposal construction of an 18 megawatt (MW) natural gas power plant in their community to provide backup power for the Eglinton LRT.

City Council requested that staff from the Environment and Energy Division (EED) meet with Metrolinx, Crosslinx Transit Solutions and Toronto Hydro to discuss the Crosslinx plan for the back-up power plant facility. EED reported on the outcome of these meetings to Executive Committee meeting on May 24, 2016.

At a community organized event for this issue held on July 19, 2016, Honourable Laura Albanese (MPP York South-Weston) indicated that she has written to the relevant Ministers to work with Metrolinx on low-carbon back-up power alternatives for the Eglinton LRT. A report is expected later this summer from Metrolinx on this issue.

City Council also requested EED prepare a Community Energy Plan for the area. This report provides an update on the progress of the Community Energy Plan - see Attachment 1 for the Draft Plan.