Blake Ellis/The Independent

There is another proposal for a battery electricity storage facility in Enniskillen Township.

Council was informed at its Sept. 2 meeting by Administrator-Clerk Christine Poland
that a company has recently approached the municipality about a potential battery electric storage project on Courtright Line in the township. Mayor Kevin Marriott says RES Energy Storage plans to make a bid to provide storage in Enniskillen.

RES has a long history in renewable energy. The company’s roots are in England where it started in 1981 engineering wind turbines. It was the first company to manufacture a one megawatt turbine and the first to install a rooftop solar project in the UK. RES constructed the world’s largest wind turbine project in Texas and has built wind projects all over the world. It began working in Canada in 2011, with a solar installation. It’s first energy storage projects were in 2015.

Plans are for officials from RES Energy to attend the Oct. 6 council meeting as a delegation. Then the company will hold a public open house between Oct. 27 and Nov. 12 before council will consider a municipal support resolution at its Dec. 1 meeting.

In order for a project to move forward, council needs to approve a municipal support
resolution.

This isn’t the first time Enniskillen Township has considered a battery storage proposal. On Feb. 6, 2003, council voted to not support a battery storage proposal that was to be constructed just one kilometre outside of Oil City on Courtright Line.

A petition of 106 names was presented to council at the time of residents in Oil City and surrounding area which were opposed to the project and about 30 residents crowded into the council chambers to voice their opposition. It was rejected.

Another proposal came before council in August 2023 for a battery storage facility on Churchill Line, but when the proposal was to be considered the next month, the company was informed there was not enough line capacity to go ahead with the project.

One of the concern was the ability of local fire departments to deal with potential problems. Poland has already scheduled a meeting in September with the fire chiefs of Oil Springs, Petrolia, Dawn-Euphemia and Brooke-Alvinston to address any concerns they might have.

“I know last time we had a battery storage facility project come forward, there were several concerns mentioned about fire safety,” said Poland.

RES Energy officials will be attending that meeting along with its fire risk management consultant. The fire chiefs will be able to ask questions, address concerns and request information about the proposal.

The Independent Electricity Systems Operator (IESO) is accepting requests for energy proposals until Dec. 18