Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Electrification, Stephen Lecce, broke ground today (Tuesday, September 17, 2024) for the Napanee Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project. Joined by Ric Bresee, MPP for Hastings–Lennox and Addington, and Terry Richardson, Mayor of Greater Napanee, the event marked the start of the first grid-connected battery project in the region and one of the largest in eastern Ontario.
The $60 million project, a joint venture between Atura Power and Ameresco Canada, aims to boost Ontario’s clean and reliable energy supply. The Napanee BESS will provide 250 megawatts of power and is set to be operational by summer 2026. It will be located next to Atura Power’s Napanee Generating Station and will use seventy-two Ontario-made transformers from Aboriginal supplier Nbisiing Power. The project is expected to create up to 80 jobs for local contractors, boosting the local economy.
“The Napanee Battery Energy Storage System is a critical investment in Ontario’s clean energy future,” said Stephen Lecce, Ontario’s Minister of Energy and Electrification. “The Napanee BESS project will support an affordable energy grid that is clean and reliable, ensuring we can meet unprecedented energy demand. Thanks to MPP Ric Bresee for his advocacy, we are getting shovels in the ground to start this battery storage project as we work to keep energy rates affordable for families, farmers and seniors while opposing the carbon tax.”
“The Napanee Battery Energy Storage System project represents an incredible opportunity for the people of Hastings–Lennox and Addington, both in terms of energy security and local job creation,” said H-L&A MPP Ric Bresee. “This investment will not only strengthen Ontario’s grid but also support economic development in Greater Napanee by creating good-paying jobs to support families and businesses.”
Written by Emily Chatwood
