The Municipality of Lakeshore will consider a number of battery storage projects at its Tuesday council meeting.
At a meeting on January 10, the council received a report outlining 15 proposals seeking approval from the municipality.
Of the 15 projects seeking approval, only four are being recommended by municipal staff based on criteria like proximity to neighbourhoods and other areas.
On Monday, Ontario Minister of Energy Todd Smith and Essex MPP Anthony Leardi met with Mayor Tracey Bailey to discuss the potential impact of these projects and community concerns.
“From greenhouses to battery storage facilities, maintaining the integrity of our rural landscape and farmlands has been a key focus of this Council over the first three months of our term,” said Mayor Bailey. “This visit was an opportunity to convey these concerns to Minister Smith and confirm that Lakeshore is at the table when it comes to delivering energy projects which are critical to the future of Lakeshore and our region.”
Mayor Bailey and Minister Smith visited several of the proposed locations in northeast Lakeshore, as well as the Hydro One transfer station at Rochester Townline and County Road 46.
All projects must receive municipal support before moving forward.
“Municipalities and Indigenous communities are key partners as our government builds the electricity generation and storage needed to support our success in attracting new jobs to the province including unprecedented investments, from electric vehicles and battery manufacturing to clean steel making,” said Minister Smith.
Council will consider the proposed projects at its meeting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
