At a recent meeting of the Carleton Landowners Association (CLA), the executive and members present discussed the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) proposed for development on private property on Marchurst Road, in rural west end Ottawa. The land will be leased for the duration of the operation of the BESS.
The CLA is a chapter of the Ontario Landowners Association. We believe in the right of private property owners to use, profit from, and dispose of (sell) their property.
We also believe in the “do no harm to your neighbour” principle. Also described as a tort of private nuisance, this is caused by a person doing something on their own land which they are lawfully entitled to do but that becomes a nuisance when the consequences of their act extend to the land of their neighbour.
We believe the risks of harm from a BESS to people, animals and property are very real and that these types of installation should only be considered for industrial areas.
Therefore, we do not support the proposed site for the BESS on Marchurst Road, also known as the South March BESS.
Many landowners bought into the promise of wind turbines during the McGuinty/Wynne government in Ontario. Reports of contaminated wells and health issues from those living in proximity to wind turbines are numerous and largely go unaddressed. As a result, many of those communities have become “Unwilling Hosts”. As of September 2024, 159 communities (mostly rural) have passed resolutions to say they are not willing to host new industrial wind power sites.
If we must have BESS, let’s get it right and ensure they are in industrial areas such as the already approved Trail Road BESS.
We look forward to attending Evolugen’s open house on February 23 in Dunrobin and encourage others to attend as well.
Carleton Landowners Association
A Chapter of the Ontario Landowners Association
