(TC Energy image)
TC Energy has reached an agreement with the Department of National Defence that will allow the for the development of a pumped storage facility at the 4th Canadian Division Training Centre in Meaford.
The company issued a release confirming the agreement is subject to conditions and regulatory approval.
According to the company statement, the 1,000-megawatt Ontario Pumped Storage Project is a multi-billion dollar private sector investment that would create about 1,000 jobs over the next eight years during development and construction.
The pumped storage plant would pay a total of approximately $8.5 million in annual income once operating to workers employed at the facility, off-site employees and direct contract workers, the company says.
The facility would involve pumping water from Georgian Bay to a higher elevation reservoir during periods of low demand for electricity, and then releasing the water back through turbines to generate electricity when power demand is higher.
“Once operating, it would provide emission-free electricity for the province, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an expected 490,000 tonnes – the equivalent of removing 150,000 cars from Ontario roads,” TC Energy claims in a statement.
Some residents in Meaford have expressed strong opposition to the TC Energy pumped storage project. A group known as Save Georgian Bay has raised concerns about the impact on the environment and community. Water turbidity, fish mortality, and water and air pollution during the construction phase are some of the issues the volunteer group of Meaford residents has with the facility.
Last year, Meaford council reached a resolution to highlight issues the municipality identified with the project and share them with the Department of National Defence and TC Energy, while requesting they be addressed prior to project approval under the Dominion Water Power Act.
At the same time, council also resolved to declare support for the TC Energy project proceeding to the applicable environmental assessment approvals process if the municipality received confirmation from federal regulators or the Department of National Defence the identified issues will be addressed.
Meaford issued a statement Thursday evening saying it received formal notification about the agreement between DND and TC Energy on July 28.
It says DND has identified that TC Energy will commence Impact and Environment assessments, which could take about three years to complete. The assessments are a required part of the approvals process.
“As TC Energy and the Federal Government proceed with Environmental and Impact Assessments, the municipality will engage in the processes and provide comments throughout that process. The municipality will retain a Project Manager to coordinate the review of the various studies and, as studies get submitted, the municipality will retain qualified consultants that have expertise in these types of assessments to assist with our commenting,” says Mayor Barb Clumpus in a release.
The statement issued by the Municipality of Meaford says TC Energy has agreed to cover the reasonable cost to undertake the peer reviews.
As a next step, Meaford says it will generate a process to share with residents of any progress reports and further information about the proposed project.
TC Energy says in a statement it will continue to consult with Saugeen Ojibway Nation and other Indigenous rightsholders, and engage with local communities and other interested stakeholders to assess potential impacts and economic benefits as the company advances the next phase of project development – including provincial and federal environmental and impact assessments.
“Advancement of the project remains subject to a number of conditions, including approval of the Company’s Board of Directors, regulatory approvals, and assurances that the project would not impact military activities and training,” a release from TC Energy explains.
*Note: This article was an updated from an earlier version to clarify the pumped storage process proposed and to add commentary from the Municipality of Meaford from a statement it issued after initial publication.