Lakeview Generating Station Is Demolished

In a quick but rather impressive display, Mississauga’s Lakeview Generating Station was demolished Thursday morning after standing as a lakefront fixture for almost 50 years.

The implosion of the 32,000 square metre building had to be delayed a few times earlier this week because of unfavourable weather. Murray Demolitions waited for optimum wind conditions so the plume of dust would head out over the lake.

Last year the plant’s four smokestacks, known as the Four Sisters, were brought down in a dramatic display. 

The Dalton McGuinty government’s recently-unveiled green plan seeks to shut all coal-fired plants by 2014. Currently coal still accounts for 20 per cent of electricity in this province.

About Lakeview Generating Station:

• In service for 43 years — from 1962-2005
• Built on a 52 hectare site
• Cost of construction – $274 million
• Staff – during the 1970s, when all units were operating, about 430 regular staff
• Originally an eight-unit station
• Considered the largest coal-fired station in the world at the time (2,400 MW)
• In the 1970s, when the station was operating as a baseload station, it could supply about 17 per cent of Ontario’s electricity needs
• In the 1990s it was reduced to a four-unit station – peaking plant
• During its operating life, the station generated more than 215 billion kWh of electricity – enough to supply all of Ontario’s needs for about one and a half years based on 2005 Ontario consumption

Info courtesy Ontario Power Generation

See unedited video of Thursday’s demolition

Lakeview had long history in Mississauga

See unedited video of the Four Sisters demolition