Heather Wright/The Independent

Make that four.

That’s the number of energy companies now courting St. Clair Township as part of their bid to win energy contracts from the provincial government.

Monday, Skyline and Blue Circle Energy told council about the battery electricity storage system project planned for industrial lands on Polymer Drive. 

Blue Circle Energy’s Development Manager, Chantelle Gubert, told council between 200 to 300 shipping container type units will store between 120 to 200 megawatts of power. 

“For perspective, 10 megawatts powers about 2,000 homes, and the plant would run for eight hours, so it would be able to charge and with a full charge, it could power all those homes for eight hours,” says Gubert.

She added this is just the type of project the province is looking for as it tries to meet the rapidly increasing demand for power. It’s looking for power generation from everything from natural gas electricity generation to solar and wind farms.

“As that energy is produced to meet peak demands during the day, we need, again, a way to balance the loads during the night as well, and that’s where battery storage comes in,” says Gubert.

Gubert says like other energy projects, the companies would provide cash through a host agreement of $1,000 per megawatt. That means the township could receive $200,000 a year from a host agreement for the project.

She added the project faces few impediments since the industrial land is already clear. The nearest home to the project would be 600 meters away and is already near industrial installations.

Councillor Pat Brown said residents had voiced concerns about the battery storage projects before. “I can see this site being a little more neutral,” he said adding the company would have to satisfy the community’s concerns about safety.

That was on the mind of Councillor Brad Langstaff. He wanted to make sure there would be training for firefighters on extinguishing the units, on the company’s dime. “That’s a big hurdle we’re dealing with right now.”

Gubert says Blue Circle would hire a US-based consultant to help with a fire safety plan for the site and train the local first responders.“They’re a firefighter LED battery storage fire safety training consultancy, and so they’re based out of New York State,” she said.

Blue Circle is expecting to hold a public meeting on the project and meet again with council to get the municipal support required to bid for the Independent Energy Supply Operator contract in December. 

This is the fourth energy company looking for that approval. Three natural gas electricity generation projects are also bidding to produce power in St. Clair. Mayor Jeff Agar has said he wants it to be the natural gas turbine capital of the province.