Residents oppose Inwood battery storage project

Blake Ellis/The Independent

Cale Hunter says the proposed Inwood battery electricity storage project is not worth the costs. The Enniskillen resident told his council the project would bring just $48 per resident to the township, taking up valuable farm land in the process.

The council chamber of Enniskillen Township was packed with residents Monday, asking council to turn down the proposal to allow for the construction of a battery storage facility on Courtright Line. RES is proposing a facility holding 240 megawatts of energy which would be one of the largest in Ontario. For the project to move ahead, the municipality has to give its support.

On the line for Enniskillen is the possibility of new revenue through a Community Commitment agreement.

“We have faced this before in 2023,” said Hunter. RES Canada proposed a battery storage facility near Oil City, but this was not supported by council. “That decision was widely appreciated by the community,” said Hunter. 

The council has also set a strong precedent in rejecting all wind turbine projects, he says and Hunter hopes council makes the same judgement when it comes to the proposed Inwood energy storage project.

“This is an industrial plant being proposed in the middle of farm land,” said Hunter. “This is not an unpopulated area as has been suggested.” 

Hunter feels allowing this project will set a precedent, opening the door for more industrial projects on farm land.

One of the main complaints about BESS project is the potential for fires which can be difficult to control and can burn for days, said Hunter. He named off several battery storage fires that have occurred recently including a fire at Brantford a year ago. 

Hunter has spoken with the Petrolia and North Enniskillen Fire Department about what RES has said about assistance it would give to local fire departments if the facility were constructed. RES has said it will hire a company run by firefighters to help train the volunteers.

But Hunter said the company has offered to provide funding just for firefighting training, but not to provide any equipment these volunteer fire departments might need. 

As to the financial benefits the municipality will receive, Hunter calculates the township would receive $145,000 a year from RES.

“Considering this is a $300 million project being built in our community, the benefit to Enniskillen is insignificant,” he said, pointing out it will only be $48 per resident, a small number compared to the long term impact that is project will have on property values and quality of life. 

Hunter said RES representatives went door-to-door to the neighbouring properties offering a one time payment of $2,000 in exchange for their support, something which he felt was the company trying to buy the neighbours approval. 

“I have spoke with almost every neighbour and the overwhelming sentiment is opposition to the project,” said Hunter. 

He asked members of council if they supported the project. 

Councillor Wally Van Dun said he has talked to other councillors and mayors in other districts and he said not everyone is opposed to these types of projects. Van Dun said he has done a lot of research and has found that a lot of the articles about fire risk are from 10 to 15 years ago and the technology has improved and these facilities are safer. 

Van Dun suggested the township might have to consider a 15 to 20 percent tax increase in the future to cover costs, noting a couple of fire trucks will need to be purchased. 

Van Dun compared the proposal to a tractor trailer being parked on a property, something that led to laughter in the crowd. 

He was challenged by members in the crowd about how many parked tractor trailers have caught fire, make noise or are lit up. 

Council was urged to vote down the project immediately. 

“The rules say when people present, we have to go through the motions,” said Mayor Kevin Marriott. “We can’t say no without listening to them.”

A decision will be made by council at its Dec. 1 meeting. 

If RES gets support from council, it will make an application to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) by Dec. 18.  

There is no guarantee RES will win a provincial contract to build the facility, however it needs Enniskillen Township’s approval to get into the running for one.

Letters were also received by the township and included in the meeting’s agenda from Ruth and Arn Syer, Doug and Diane Syer, Greg, Janice and Cheryl Cameron, Mike, Karen and Kathleen Hoven, as well as Veronica Myers, all in opposition to the Inwood energy storage project.