Proposals are popping up all over Ontario: what do you, and your community, need to ask?

Battery storage facility-Shutterstock image

November 10, 2023

As of today, Wind Concerns Ontario counts at least 30 Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) proposals throughout the province, ranging from South-west Ontario to Huron-Bruce and to Eastern Ontario and the Ottawa area.

The projects proposed range from under 10 megawatts to 350. The projects consist of lithium ion battery units, each f which is approximate in size to a shipping contained or transport truck trailer, and also include large cooling units, concrete pads, transmission lines and other infrastructure.

Last week, a City of Ottawa councillor attended a public meeting for a 250-megawatt BESS proposal in his ward and the next day issued a statement saying he could not support it.

Battery projects carry significant risks

“While I am not fundamentally opposed to BESS systems and see the growing need for our ability to store power to strengthen our energy grid as we try to limit GHG emissions, I realize that this is relatively new technology that does carry some serious risks for the surrounding community,” Clarke Kelly said in his statement.

“With new technology and the associated risk that has been identified, I believe that the scale of this proposal, without assurances of safety, with many details still unknown, is prohibitive to getting the much-needed support of the community. The proposal put forth by Evolugen is 14 acres and 290 containers filled with battery technology and, if this were to be built, would be one of the largest in the world.

“Last night, the community had some questions about fire safety, direct benefits to the community, the effect on wildlife and wetlands that are on or around the property in question, as well as concerns about light pollution and noise since sound carries easily in a quiet rural area, and this is a large-scale project. I don’t believe the answers that were provided had the level of detail, clarity, or certainty that is required to gain public support and put concerns at ease.

“…the overwhelming majority of people I have heard from are not supportive of a project of this size in their community. As a result, I will not be supporting a municipal support resolution for this particular project.”

Mr Kelly was referring to a proposal by Brookfield’s renewable energy arm, named Evolugen.

Risk of fire, noise pollution concerns people

There are reports of concerns about other BESS projects being proposed in response to the Independent Electricity System Operator or IESO. Most of the concerns are related to the risk of fire, and the fact that BESS projects will add noise and light pollution to the environment, as well as take up agricultural land for 20 to 30 years. Others question the value of the proposals to the community, especially when such large projects are being proposed for small, rural communities.

“Energy storage for any length of time is chemical storage,” a professional engineer advised Wind Concerns. “They have the problems you’ve outlined, plus a limited life.”

Wind Concerns Ontario has prepared a fact sheet with considerations about Battery Storage facilities: the points in the document may help citizens, and municipal government officials, to ask questions about these proposals in meetings with the proponents.

Many of the proponents are current or former wind power developers, such as the above-named Brookfield, and Enbridge, NextEra, Algonquin, and Boralex.

Under IESO rules, the proponents must have a public meeting, but in some cases, the meetings have already occurred before residents learn of the projects.

Municipal approval is MANDATORY for the proposals to be successful Under IESO rules, a project proposal may win a contract, but the proponent must get municipal approval within 18 months.

Read the fact sheet here: