27-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Battery energy storage facility approved in Centre Wellington
FERGUS – Centre Wellington is set to become the home of one of Canada's largest battery energy storage systems for 25 years.
Following
staff recommendations
at a Centre Wellington council meeting Monday afternoon, Centre Wellington council has approved a zoning bylaw amendment allowing Aypa Power LLC to construct a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facility at 6235 Guelph St., roughly two kilometres south of Fergus.
It comes after several months of negotiations and deliberations.
The move still needs the approval of the County of Wellington.
A BESS is a facility of rechargeable batteries with a limited lifespan that can store energy from different sources or during off-peak hours and feed it back into the grid when electricity demand is highest.
Taking up approximately 4.6 hectares of the 43-hectare farm property, the facility is technically temporary since BESS lose storage capacity over time and the lands are planned to be decommissioned and restored in 2052.
Planned to generate up to 200 MW or 800 MWh of energy for the county, the facility is anticipated to create 200 to 300 jobs for three years starting this fall and six to eight full-time jobs during operation.
In their recommendations, staff said the BESS facility will help contribute to the province's energy supply goals and are confident the
concerns
raised can be adequately addressed to ensure compatibility and public safety through detailed design and the site plan.
Environmental matters would be addressed through a Class Environmental Assessment, which requires extensive studies.
'At the end of the day, we've got to make a decision based on what's good, not only for our community, but what's good for the greater community as well,' said Mayor Shawn Watters. 'And I think this will be an example of how that is done.'
Originally on the agenda for the last council meeting, councillors chose to defer the decision so the public could have a chance to see a letter from the Minister of Energy and Mines, Stephen Lecce, who wrote that projects like the Elora BESS project are critical to meeting the province and region's needs this decade.
'If the province cannot address the grid's capacity needs with battery energy storage systems, it will reduce the overall cleanliness of Ontario's electrical grid, while also increasing costs for electricity consumers,' said Lecce's letter.
In response to council's concerns about Aypa Power's close association with the American company, Blackstone Inc., Lecce said the project is exempt from new regulations that would restrict American businesses from accessing public sector procurements in Ontario.
Restating these concerns during the council meeting, Coun. Jennifer Adams was the sole councillor to oppose the application, saying she's received a lot of concern from area residents and believes the risks outweigh the benefits at this time.
'I believe it is essential that we, as a council, remain independent in our decision-making and not be swayed by corporate influence. We have urgent priorities and we must focus on those,' said Adams. 'There is also a real concern about the safety and environmental impacts of this relatively new technology, including risks like fire, noise and air pollution.'
Coun. Denis Craddock disagreed, saying there were safety concerns when the project was first proposed, but feels that the township and Aypa have gone above and beyond to make sure that this is a safe facility in the community.
'I don't think it's the ownership that matters, it's the investment that matters ... I don't think that clean energy should be political,' said Craddock.
Council also heard two delegations and received letters from residents sharing opposing views on the proposed facility, with some arguing it's important to participate in projects prioritizing green energy, while others shared several concerns about safety, health, the environment and property values.
Justin Bailey, said the proposed facility is located close to his home and he's alarmed at the potential risks a BESS facility poses to the safety and well-being of his young family and the surrounding community.
'This is not merely a 'not in my backyard' sentiment; it is a heartfelt plea from concerned parents who want to ensure that their children grow up in a safe and healthy environment,' said Bailey in a letter. 'We implore Aypa Power to reconsider this project's location and work collaboratively with local residents to identify a safer, more suitable site.'
On the other side of the coin, the BESS landowner, Cindy Lindsay, said the project is intended to be temporary and they've worked with Aypa to incorporate soil protection, site remediation and restoration and safety to ensure the land is returned to agricultural production when the lease is up so their family can continue farming the land.
'We feel this project reflects a balance between tradition and innovation, allowing farmers to thoughtfully choose how to use their land and at the same time embracing the changes necessary to build a more sustainable future and hopefully moving the needle and reaching the sustainable development goals,' said Lindsay.
Coun. Bronwynne Wilton declared a pecuniary interest and didn't participate in discussions.
Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program.
