Anyone in need of an extra power transformer?

The Ontario government is stockpiling massive pieces of equipment originally purchased to build the Mississauga gas plant, a project that was abruptly cancelled by the Liberals six months ago during the provincial election campaign due to community concerns.

A power transformer, two-stories high, was dropped off near the site of the gas plant on Monday even though the project was cancelled on Sept. 24, 2011. Halting construction at the site took longer than expected and didn’t stop until Nov. 21, 2011.

This was equipment bought well before the plant was scrapped, said Energy Minister Chris Bentley.

“There was equipment that was procured before construction on the site stopped,” Bentley told reporters. “It is now being delivered. It needs to be stored somewhere.”

The opposition called nixing the plant a blatant vote grab during one of the tightest election campaigns in Ontario’s history.

The province is now being sued for $300 million by EIG Management, the Washington financier of the project.

Progressive Conservative MPP Vic Fedeli said he “is quite certain we are going to continue to see materials delivered there for months to come.”

There is also a 200,000 square foot warehouse on the Queensway that is receiving continual shipments for the plant — stacks, structural steel and door. “Inside it are cranes and other leased construction equipment. This is the gift that keeps on giving from a financial perspective,” Fedeli said.

Transformers connect a generator to the power system by stepping up the voltage of the generator to the same level as the transmission system.

The transformer went into storage on Monday, said Kristin Jenkins, vice-president of the Ontario Power Authority. “The transformer and other equipment can be used somewhere else,” Jenkins said.

Fedeli shot back: “Where? Does that tell us they know the location of the next power plant?”

OPA, which develops energy policy in the province, is in talks with Greenfield South Power Corporation, the builders of the plant, on where the facility should now be located.

“It is important to make sure whatever proposed site there is has good, strong community interest,” said Bentley, who added a number of communities have quietly approached the government to say they are interested.

Jenkins was not sure how much equipment has arrived since construction stopped or how much was spent on the transformer. “I can’t really get into cost,” she said.

The Mississauga plant was to be located on 2315 Loreland Ave., near Sherway Gardens.

The plant became an embarrassment for the Liberals as construction continued on the site and progress was broadcast sporadically by the PCs using a webcam on YouTube.

It is located in Mississauga East-Cooksville, on the boundary with the swing riding of Mississauga South, where polls suggested cabinet minister Charles Sousa was in a dead heat with his PC challenger.

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Also Tuesday, the government revealed that a statement of claim had been filed against it for $1 billion by SouthPoint Wind regarding the offshore wind moratorium.

Last February, the Liberals announced they would not proceed with proposed offshore wind projects while further scientific research was conducted. Offshore wind in freshwater lakes is early in development and there are no projects operating in North America, said energy ministry spokesperson Jennifer Kett.

This is the second lawsuit filed against the government regarding the moratorium on offshore wind projects. Trillium Wind Power Corp. filed a suit last Sept. for $2.25 billion in damages.

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