SOMERSET, N.Y. — 2 On Your Side has confirmed that the Hamilton Oshawa Port Authority (HOPA) has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Beowulf Energy, the current owner of the former power plant site in Somerset, to develop an international port.
The MOU calls for a study, which will be conducted over the course of three to four months later this year, will determine the feasibility for the establishment of a port at the site of the former power plant.
A spokesperson tells WGRZ that the goal of project would be to reduce the time it takes for products made in Canada to reach the United States for further distribution.
The former power plant has a direct connection to rail lines, which a source with direct knowledge of the project tells 2 On Your Side "makes it an ideal location."
Right now, products made in Oshawa have a 150 to 200-mile trip into the United States if the goods are shipped by rail or truck over the existing international crossings.
But a direct cargo route from Oshawa to Somerset is only 37 miles across Lake Ontario.
One of the largest manufacturers in Oshawa is the General Motors assembly plant, where more than 1,350 trucks are produced each day.
A spokesperson from HOPA told WGRZ that "manufacturing including in automotive manufacturing will be part of what emerges as a potentially good candidate to utilize this service."
Sources say that HOPA is looking into using electric barges to ship cargo from Oshawa to Somerset, which would then be loaded onto railcars.
Another source indicated that that a new port could create as many as 100 direct jobs, not including any border security that would be required on site.
Gov. Kathy Hochul's office says the state is not a signee of the MOU and is not part of this initial deal.
WGRZ also reached out to Senator Chuck Schumer's office for comment, as a new international port would need federal approval.
2 On Your Side reached out to Beowulf Energy for comment, but have not heard back yet.
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