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New Edinburgh News
October 2005
Lisgar, Dufferin, Rideau Terrace
Intersection
New Edinburgh residents, especially the walkers, will know of the
road works underway in the area. Everyone will by now probably
know that this intersection will have a different form from that
which existed previously. It will become a classic
“T-intersection”, without any curved merging lane. The new form
will be much safer and will have much more green space adjacent.
The sidewalk on the south corner will be re-instated and relocated
to follow the road geometry. In addition, a new sidewalk will
start at this junction, adjacent to the Governor General’s fence,
and eventually connect to the public parklands north of the
Rockcliffe Parkway. The eastern edge of Lisgar Road in this area
had become ill defined over the years with the application of
various tarmac patches. As a result of these works, the roadway
will acquire a clear definition and effectively be narrowed. The
sidewalk, which had existed as a tarmac surface, will be
reconstructed in concrete from this intersection to Maple.
Plasma Gasification
As many will have heard, the City of Ottawa is considering a pilot
project that would determine if an alternative exists for dealing
with solid wastes that cannot be diverted from our landfill. The
City’s targets for diversion, currently achieving 32%, move up to
40% at the end of 2006 and 60% by 2008. Even assuming that the
City achieves those ambitious targets, some 40% of our solid
wastes (40%=120,000 tonnes/year) would still accumulate in the
landfill. Although that would significantly increase the life of
the landfill, it would nonetheless require replacement in the
future at enormous costs not to mention the difficulties
associated with finding a suitable site.
The technology to be tested uses very high heat (a plasma) to
break down the molecules of the source material (even stripping
atoms of their electrons!). This occurs in a chamber closed to the
atmosphere. No burning occurs. Process parameters are adjusted to
produce three products – an inert glass-like slag which can be
utilized because it will not leach to the ground, a synthetic gas
that can be used to produce energy in a conventional gas engine,
and finally, steam.
The evaluation plant, while itself not of a commercially viable
size, is intended to prove that an existing small-scale proto-type
plant can be scaled up to a commercial plant. The proposed plant
will allow controlled testing and incorporate independent
third-party monitors as well as daily results published on a web
site.
The proponents, Plasco Energy Group, will bear all planning,
design, approval, insurance, construction and decommissioning
costs. The City will provide a site for the plant, access to City
utilities (power and water) at the usual rates and 75 tonnes/day
of source material (municipal garbage) and pay a tipping fee of
$40/tonne (essentially what it costs to landfill). Moreover, the
City will share in electricity revenues and participate in future
royalties (including sales to other municipalities) should the
pilot be successful. There would appear to no risk to the
municipality and yet significant potential benefits (environmental
and financial) of proving the economic scalability of this
Canadian (Ottawa) developed technology.
If all approvals can be received, including an amended Certificate
of Approval from the provincial Department of the Environment,
construction of the facility is expected in the winter of
2006/spring of 2007, commissioning in the spring/summer of 2007.
The pilot is intended to last one year. Additional information can
be found on the web at
www.zerowasteottawa.com and at
www.plascoenergygroup.com .
Bytown Bridges
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I was pleased to participate in the
official re-opening of the Bytown Bridges. The vice-regal
couple, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson
Governor General of Canada accompanied by His Excellency John
Ralston Saul, presided. |
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They were joined by the President of the NCC,
Mr. Marcel Beaudry, the mayor of Ottawa, Mr. Bob Chiarelli, MPP
for Ottawa-Vanier and Minister of Culture and Minister Responsible
for Francophone Affairs, Mme. Madeleine Meilleur along with the
two City Councillors whose wards are joined by these bridges,
Georges Bédard (Rideau-Vanier) and myself (Rideau-Rockcliffe). The
occasion highlighted the fresh look for a significant part of the
NCC’s ceremonial route and marked, for residents of Ottawa, a
return to full use of an important route to and from the downtown
core.
Jacques Legendre
Councillor, Rideau-Rockcliffe
You can communicate with me at (please include a telephone
number):
City of Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa ON K1P 1J1
Tel: 580-2483, Fax: 580-2523
E-mail:
jacques.legendre@ottawa.ca
Web Site:
www.rideau-rockcliffe.com
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