Muskoka Community Energy

There is an alternative
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SREL is a business too... 
The Management team at Swift River Energy Ltd. (SREL) is made up of waterpower professionals. SREL knew or ought to have known the social significance of Bala Falls to the community when they submitted their application. Members of the public are highly critical of their decision to apply to use Bala Falls north. Representatives of SREL were told of the negative impacts very early in the process when the south channel alternative was presented as an option in 2005. This alternative has been repeatedly rejected by SREL. It is beleived that if SREL is not permitted to develop the North Site then they could withdraw their application or transfer the Applicant of Record Status to another applicant such as Muskoka Community Energy.
 
SREL accepted a number of risks that their current proposal could be stopped within the approvals process or by the District Municipality of Muskoka (if it is determined that the proposal is not the preferred alternative). 

The MNR reserves the right to determine if a site is appropriate for release and/or change or establish the site release process which will apply.

Environmental Assessment Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.18 states .

Decision by Minister 9.  (1)  The Minister may decide an application and, with the approval of the Lieutenant Governor in Council or of such ministers of the Crown as the Lieutenant Governor in Council may designate, the Minister may,

(c) refuse to give approval to proceed with the undertaking. 1996, c. 27, s. 3.


SREL is currently selected applicant of record. The municipality is not bound by this provincially run selection process. The district municipality is not bound to dispose of land to this applicant. The municipality can refuse to allow the use of municipal land.
The MNR have been asked to make the following changes the site release process: Before appointing an "Applicant of Record" the site must be assessed for it's other values. If hydro generation is an appropriate use of any public land, then it must be offered first to the municipality, second to a non-profit generator and finally to the nearest publicly owned power generator in priority ahead of private proponents.