Greater Napanee Town Council has voted yes in support of the three Battery Energy Storage Project proposals.
Battery Energy Storage Systems function as mechanisms that store energy generated from renewable sources such as solar and wind, allowing for its retention and subsequent release at times of peak power demand.
But, what does that mean for Greater Napanee and what’s happening next?
General Manager of Growth and Expansion Michael Nobes explained during the meeting.
Whether that be servicing, storm water management, fire protection, ground water impacts, hydro geological review, spills action plan, ensuring adequate insurance, liability insurance for any contamination that may result from a catastrophic incident, geotechnical reports, landscape plans, noise study, traffic management during construction and decommissioning.
That level of detail would follow, and the proponents haven’t yet had the time to undertake that vast number of studies.
There are still provincial requirements from the Ministry of the Environment and potentially the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Deputy Mayor Brian Calver went on to ask and verify that a vote either way last night would not put a battery plant in place immediatly, that there are more things that would need to get done first before that could happen.
Nobes’ reply said in part that if council is agreeable to the applicants request for support resolution, this simply gains them additional points and weighted criteria for the IESO to ultimately make a decision.
A recorded vote for each proposal was requested. In the case of Boralex Lennox Battery Energy Storage Project Request, Councillors Angela Hicks and Dave Pinnell were the only to vote no. They were also the only two to vote no for the EDF Renewables Bethany Battery Energy Storage Project. It was then a unanimous yes for the Atura Power Napanee Generating Station Battery Energy Storage Project.
Written by Emily Chatwood
