Heather Wright/The Independent

An Ottawa-based energy company has big plans for a 10-acres of land on the corner of Greenfield and Bickford Line.

Vogtech Renewables CEO Gabriel Fono outlined his company’s plan for a 195-megawatt battery electricity storage project and a 250-megawatt natural-gas powered generation plant to St. Clair Township council Monday.

The company is hoping to apply for a project to the Independent Electricity System Operator and one of the requirements is to get approval from the municipal government.

Fono says the company found a willing landowner “strategically located on lands that are not prime agriculture.”

He also noted it was close to a major power line, which is necessary to connect to the power grid.

Fono said public input has just begun. He told council Monday that he’s sent letters to surrounding landowners.

“They are very positive. Residents are very excited for industrialization of the land. They’ve been hoping for this type of project.”

The company held a public meeting at the Moore Sports Complex Nov. 21 but Fono was vague about how Vogtech Renewables was notifying the public. He said “the city” would place the notice on its website.

Council members seemed skeptical about Vogtech’s St. Clair Energy Plant plans. 

Mayor Jeff Agar asked why the company was now considering a natural gas power plant when they’d first said it would be hydrogen.

Agar also suggested Fono change the information in his power point presentation to reflect the project would be in St. Clair Township, not Sarnia, as it said.

And Councillor Bill Myers said the 10-acre plot of land the project is planned for is currently farmed. He didn’t want to see farm land used for energy projects.

Fono will return to council Dec. 1, after he’s completed his public meeting. The company hopes to win a letter of support needed to apply to the IESO for an energy contract.

The township has already supported a number of projects including two natural-gas power plant proposals from companies already working in St. Clair Township.