Three battery storage energy projects could be coming to Chatham-Kent (CK), bringing local jobs and Community Benefits.
During Monday’s CK council meeting, two companies - Aypa Power Canada and Ferma Energy partnered with Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. - presented their project proposals to council.
Aypa Power Canada proposed two battery storage initiatives, including sites on Queen’s Line west of Chatham and at the Bloomfield Business Park south of Chatham.
The first site would be located at 7221 Queens Line and/or 7083 Queens Line and use approximately 33 acres of land.
The second site would be at 7660 Seventh Line West and would use roughly 21 acres of land.
Both projects would have a 20 to 21-year fixed price capacity contract with IESO, and would store a total of 700 megawatts (MW) of battery energy.
Ferma Energy and Innergex Renewable Energy Inc. presented a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) that would be constructed on Base Line, just east of Wallaceburg.
The site would use roughly 30 to 40 acres of land and hold up to 500 MW of battery energy.
Throughout the roughly 20-year leases, the proposed Aypa projects would bring over $50 million of Community Benefits to CK, and although the Ferma Energy proposal didn’t give an exact number, its project would also allow for financial contributions throughout the lease.
The projects would also bring jobs to CK, with hundreds of temporary construction jobs being filled during the site's construction. The companies detailed that they would also add a handful of full-time positions to operate and maintain the sites, once they were built.
Council approved the execution of a Community Support Agreement and a Municipal Support Resolution for all three projects, with only Councillor Jubenville opposing the Wallaceburg project.
If the proposals are approved, the sites would become operational in 2028.
