As the pumped storage project enters its impact assessment phase in Meaford, newly elected Mayor Shirley Keaveney knows it is a top priority.
“The dominant issue in Meaford is the TC Energy Pumped Storage Project,” Keaveney says. “So we did talk about that at a lot of doors as well.”
Since the project is on federal land at the Army Training Centre -Central in Meaford, Keaveney notes the municipality has no say over whether the project proceeds, only whether Meaford will be a willing or unwilling host.
“The council of the day will have an important decision to make, which will be whether or not Meaford chooses to be a willing host community to this project or a non-willing host,” Keaveney says.
The pumped storage project is a proposed 1,000-megawatt facility at the military base, developed by TC Energy and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. The project functions as a massive natural battery, pumping water from Georgian Bay to an upper reservoir at night and releasing it through turbines to generate electricity during peak demand. The land required for the ring dam is approximately 135 hectares.
Keaveney says these studies could be completed during this new council term or the next. If they are finished during the upcoming term, the council will decide whether Meaford will be a willing or unwilling host.
Concerns brought forward from the public include how the project will affect water quality, air quality, soil contamination, and noise pollution from the reservoir.
“If I feel all of those concerns have not been adequately addressed, I will be the first to put up my hand and say Meaford will be a non-willing host,” Keaveney says. “What that will mean is that there will be zero opportunity for Meaford to discuss a community benefit agreement going forward.”
The impact assessment phase is expected to take three to four years to complete, examining how the project will affect concerns such as water quality, air quality, soil contaminants and residents living near the reservoir.