(TC Energy image)
Meaford is going to look at setting up a new advisory committee this week, geared toward the proposed TC Energy Pumped Storage project.
In a quarterly update coming to council, CAO Matt Smith is recommending council establish the Pumped Storage Advisory Committee, which will examine the benefits and impacts of hosting such a project.
This comes after TC Energy says it will continue with its proposal process after Ontario’s Minister of Energy Todd Smith requested more detailed information last month.
Since council’s last update on the proposed project in October, an internal working group was formed. It includes Mayor Ross Kentner, the Deputy Mayor, the CAO, and the Director of Economic Development and Culture from Grey County to regularly talk about the project and provide input on next steps.
The new advisory committee being recommended is from those talks.
A report from Smith says, “staff anticipate that the committee will play a valuable role in guiding the municipality on the concerns and interests of the community as a whole. and help guide the municipality’s response to the impact assessment and environmental assessment process. The advisory committee will also play a role in the community benefit process, assisting in identifying priorities for the community and making recommendations to council.”
The new committee would include nine residents, a member from council, one from the Meaford Chamber of Commerce, another from the Save Georgian Bay Association, and a youth under the age of 25.
Recruitment for the committee began on Feb. 1 and will close March 1 with members set to be appointed on March 11, and meetings starting shortly afterwards.
Council will consider approving this new group at its meeting on Feb. 12 at 1 p.m.