Residents skeptical about Trenton power plan

A $30-million plan to reduce emissions at the Trenton power generating plant is being met with skepticism by local residents who have been complainingabout pollution for years.

Peter Boyles, 52, says his front yard is often covered with grey and black ash. He lives within a kilometre of Nova Scotia Power's generating plant.

For many years, he and other members of the Hillside-Trenton Environmental Watch Association have been asking the government to clean up the air.

Nova Scotia Power announced Thursday that it plans to spend $30 million on pollution control by installing a new filter system, and another $15 million to replace the electricity generator.

If the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board approves the proposal, construction would start in 2008 and the project would be done by the following year.

Boyles says that's too long to wait.

"What I'm thinking is they're just going to prolong it," he said. "Next thing you know, we'll be in 2018 and still nothing's done.

"I've seen the health effects. We can't wait another day. If they really care about us, they'd have something starting right away."

Environment and Labour Minister Mark Parent says it takes time for a proposal to become reality, but he's confident all steps will unfold according to plan.

"I guess there's always a chance of delay, but we've been assured that this is what they plan to do," Parent said.

Parent says the proposal works well with commitments to cut sulphur dioxide emissions in half by 2010.

Boyles, meanwhile, is asking the government to invest more in wind power.