Proposed Clinton-area battery storage project nixed by company

BY SHAWN LOUGHLIN

Ferma Energy has opted not to proceed with a battery storage project in Central Huron on Hydro Line Road directly across from the Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area after hearing plenty of “negative feedback” from local residents.

 

The company first engaged with the public on the project in July, holding an open house at the Central Huron Community Complex in the middle of the month that was sparsely attended and, because it was so early in the process, provided few answers to questions being asked by those who were in attendance. Above all, both residents and Central Huron Council members in attendance were concerned about the project being proposed on prime agricultural land when there were so many other options available to the company.

 

At Central Huron Council’s Monday night meeting, Mayor Jim Ginn made mention of correspondence that had been sent from the company to council members, announcing that the company would not be moving forward. That e-mail has since been forwarded to The Citizen.

 

“As for the public engagement, we heard a lot of negative feedback. Most of the feedback could be summed up as a lack of understanding of these types of projects. Many folks wondered why the project had to be located here, so close to a community that is expanding,” Mike Brugge, managing partner with Ferma Energy, noted in his e-mail to Ginn and council. “As well, we heard fear over what negative issues a project like this might cause. For these reasons, we have decided to focus on our other projects for the LT2 IESO (Long-Term 2, Independent Electricity System Operator) procurement window and potentially revisit this location at a later date. It will likely be important for us to engage further with the community and provide opportunities for education and discussion.”

 

Council members didn’t have much to say on the content of the correspondence, but Deputy-Mayor Marg Anderson suggested sharing the news far and wide through the municipality’s website and social media channels, as concern and inquiries on the status of the project had persisted since that initial open house is July and she had received many calls about it from concerned citizens.

 

As originally proposed, the project would have occupied between 10 and 15 acres of the property covered in shipping containers measuring eight feet by eight feet by 20 feet holding batteries for electricity storage and distribution, depending on the needs of the grid.