- by Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor
TC Energy is looking for the support of local municipalities as their proposed pumped storage facility prepares for the next phases of the environmental impact assessment process. This was the purpose of a deputation to Owen Sound city council last night by Clark Littke, Senior community Representative for TC Energy,
The pitch from TC Energy has changed considerably from that first standing room only pre-Covid public meeting in Meaford in December 2019.
The essential model remains, based on a hydro-electric energy storage system first used in Switzerland almost a century ago. Power produced by nuclear and hydro that is excess to overnight requirement would be used to pump water from Georgian Bay into a reservoir on the Department of National Defence property in Meaford. The next day, that water is dropped, driving turbines to produce 1000 kw of power and distribute it to the Ontario grid. That is enough power, says Little, to power 1 million homes for 8 hours.
The changes in the design are primarily in response to environmental concerns brought forward by the public. According to Little, the company is “serious about protecting Georgian Bay and the environment,” and this project will be the only one in the world “specifically designed to protect fish and their spawning areas.”
The new design has deep-water intakes with horizontal flow to reduce turbidity. All pumps, pipes and turbines are now underground, and there are no visible shoreline features. The discharged water is designed to come into the bay at approximately 1 km/h – Little made the comparison with a soaker hose, diffusing the impact of the force and volume of water leaving a faucet.
The power transmission is now proposed to be under Georgian Bay and then undergound in a corridor between Collingwood and Wasaga Beach until it reaches existing transmission lines around Stayner.
In answer to a question by Councillor Kukreja, Mr. Little said they estimate 800 to 1000 workers will be needed over the five year construction period. Before anyone could ask, Little anticipated that the next questions would be Where will they come from? and Where will they live?
Saying that TC Energy did not itself build housing, Little said he could expect that they would be willing to work with partners in building one or more 100-unit developments which would be added to local housing stock after completion of the pumped storage facility.
TC Energy is looking for regional municipal input, including reviewing upcoming Impact Assessment submissions and providing contacts with suppliers to increase local participation.
Full deputation is available here.
More information from the company is available at ontariopumpedstorage.com.
