Ontario Premier Dallton McGuinty was in Sault Ste. Marie July 17 to announce the official opening of Essar Steel Algoma's new $135-million co-generation facility, which will reduce the mill's emissions and power use.
The new 70 megawatt co-generation facility will cut Essar Steel's reliance on the provincial power grid by 50 per cent on average and reduce the company's nitrous oxide emissions by 15 per cent or 400 tonnes per year.
The project is creating 200 jobs during the construction phase.
It was facilitated by a 20-year power purchase agreement with the Ontario Power Authority that allows Essar to sell power back to the provincial grid.
“Essar Steel operates plants around the world and today we can say that one of the most advanced and sustainable of those plants is right here in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont,” said McGuinty, in a media release. "It's home to the best of the most highly skilled workers in the world and new green technology that's better for our air.”
