Dear Editor:
RE: Battery storage issues, March 6.
I am opposed to the proposed Aypa Power battery energy storage system (BESS) facility to be situated on prime agricultural land in south Fergus.
The recent community roundtable hosted by Energy Storage Canada and Energy Safety Response Group has not changed my view. These trade organizations lobby all levels of government on behalf of their membership. Ergo they have a bias.
They provided no clear answer to a question asking whether it was best practice to locate a large-scale BESS away from residential development.
Residential development is approved to the immediate north/northeast of the proposed Fergus BESS. In case of fire, the let-it-burn protocol is disconcerting.
An article published by CTIF (International Association of Fire Services) quotes New York Senator Lanza as saying, “While I firmly believe that this type of energy-technology is the future, the implementation has to be practical and responsible. Placing a large, sophisticated machine, filled with potentially explosive lithium-ion batteries, in residential or school communities is unacceptable.
“The fires caused by these batteries typically cannot be extinguished because of the presence of harsh chemical toxins, increasing the hazard and potential damage.”
This related to a BESS on Staten Island. Why would we want anything different for our community?
The Ontario Federation of Agriculture concluded in a review: “that the Ministry of Energy prioritize the siting of all energy infrastructure on commercial and industrial land.”
On a final note, Premier Doug Ford is banning procurement from U.S. firms and urges municipalities to do the same. Aypa Power is ultimately owned by Blackstone a U.S. multi-national. Its chair, CEO and largest stakeholder Stephen Schwarzman is a significant Trump supporter.
In contrast, Alectra Energy Solutions, who has proposed a BESS near Belwood, is wholly Canadian owned.
Teresa Gregg,
Fergus