Many of you will be aware that the former West Carleton Township, now a part of the City of Ottawa, has been fighting the approval of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for many months now.
A brief history is in order. The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) issued a Request For Proposals (RFP) in 2023. Four BESS were proposed for development in Ottawa. Only one, Trail Road BESS, was approved by Ottawa City Council.
Unfortunately, the province decided to give one of the proponents, Evolugen (a subsidiary of Brookfield Renewable Power Inc.), a second chance to seek the Municipal Support Resolution (MSR) required for the project to go ahead. Municipalities are supposed to have siting authority for renewable energy projects. This project, now referred to as the South March BESS, is the only one given a second chance, with the deadline to receive the MSR by February 2026.
First planned for a location near Fitzroy Harbour, the project was moved to another location when the first did not work out. Now referred to as the South March BESS, it has been strongly opposed by residents. See Facebook page West Carleton BESS. Our Councillor Clarke Kelly opposes it as does our MPP Karen MacCrimmon. It has been denounced by Ottawa Wind Concerns and by the environmental group Friends of the Carp Hills. FCH are concerned about the potential risks to the local environment, particularly the Provincially Significant Wetland Complex and the potential impact on Species at Risk. Friends of the Carp Hills are a science- and evidence-based organization and believe the proposal needs careful evaluation.
To be clear, the main opposition to the project is the location with many of the opponents saying they would support it, just not in this location. It is located on farmland, near environmentally sensitive lands, as well as people and animals both domestic and wild. The one project that was approved, Trail Road BESS, is in an industrial area and received little or no opposition.
On May 28, the matter of the MSR for Evolugen was tabled at Council. Rules were suspended to do a walk-on motion asking for the matter to be referred to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee (ARAC) on June 5 and then to Council on June 11. The motion revealed that “the Minister of Energy has directly affirmed the priority of the South March BESS project to Mayor Sutcliffe and Ottawa City Council”. In other words, the Mayor and Council have their marching orders from the Province: the MSR will be given. You can watch the motion being presented and passed atarting at around 3:02. https://youtu.be/fkjaL5GCjdw
When the news of the walk-on motion reached the public, just two days before the May 28 Council meeting, the community began emailing Mayor Sutcliffe. Each received the same reply: the MSR is not the end of the process. “If Council decides to grant an MSR for the project, the proponent still would need to obtain a Zoning By-law amendment to permit the site and would need to provide a site plan that satisfies city staff.” But we all know that once the MSR is granted the rest of the process is just a formality and the deal is done.
Next steps are discussion at ARAC on June 5 where councillors will decide to approve or reject the MSR. The project will then be discussed at Council where the final decision on the MSR will be made. Undoubtedly, the MSR will be given to the project at Council even if it is rejected by ARAC.
In 2024, Ottawa held a year long Rural Summit process. One of the promises by the Mayor Mark Sutcliffe was better Governance in rural Ottawa. We are 80% of the City geographically but only 20% of the population represented by five councillors out of 24 plus the mayor. (Rural councillors number just 4 until a by-election is held on June 16 to replace George Darouze who was elected as an MPP.) Will the promise “to strengthen the mandate of the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee … to ensure rural perspectives are heard and understood” be honoured? I think not!
Councillor Cathy Curry whose ward borders on West Carleton-March ward where the project is planned says the project is fundamental to the tech park in her ward. Why could the BESS not be sited there? It is also supported by the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation in Renfrew County.
To be fair, the location has changed since the MSR was rejected for this project last time. But it is not a better location, just different. The promise of money is a strong influencer: the two landowners hosting the South March BESS will undoubtedly profit from the project. Evolugen has promised the City $250,000 annually for 20 years to support local projects.
Is it again time to rethink the governance of rural Ottawa?
Sign used by rural residents wanting to separate from the City of Ottawa.