No ethanol plant on Oshawa’s waterfront

In a statement released late Monday, the Oshawa Port Authority has advised that no ethanol plant will be moving forward on Oshawa’s waterfront.

“In accordance with the commitment made at its Annual General Meeting in June, 2016 the Oshawa Port Authority can advise that a decision has now been reached in its arbitration proceeding with FarmTech Energy Corporation. The OPA can further advise that the FarmTech Project will not be proceeding on Port Authority lands.”

No further details were provided regarding the decision.

The news could not have been better for the city, says Mayor John Henry.

“The great news is we started this journey on July 1 of 2011 so I’m happy that it’s over with and happy with the support of councillors and regional councillors, and now we can get on with developing a waterfront that you can be proud of,” he says, noting that many of the details are still unknown at this point.

“Hopefully they’re made public, but I don’t have any other information to share,” he says. “For the residents of Oshawa and the people who live in the south end, not building a refinery there is great news.”

The plant was approved in 2012, despite heavy opposition from the city of Oshawa, however no movement was ever made on the project.

More details to come.