Council to hold public meeting before Dec. 18 vote on proposed battery storage facility on Highway 15
UPDATE: BESS proponent withdraws Lombardy proposal
RIDEAU LAKES — Rideau Lakes council will wait on a decision about whether to support a proposed battery energy storage system on Highway 15, opting to hold a public meeting before any vote takes place.
The project, proposed for 774 Hwy. 15 in Lombardy, would consist of 16 battery containers supplying 9.5 megawatts of storage capacity under the province’s Long-Term 2 procurement program. Developer Simon Rowland of Renewable Power Partners presented the plan during a virtual council meeting on Dec. 1.
Rowland told council the batteries would charge during low-demand overnight hours and discharge during peak times, improving grid stability. He said the containers would sit on less than half an acre, screened with vegetation at the rear of the lot. He described the site as non-prime agricultural land and said the project could provide lease income for the landowner, property tax revenue for the township and improved electrical capacity for the region.
“This installation uses next-generation lithium iron phosphate cells, which have a much lower fire risk and no flammable gases,” Rowland said. “The equipment is designed to self-isolate, and firefighting protocol is simply to monitor from outside the fence.”
He said the company follows national fire and electrical codes and that a decommissioning plan requires full removal of equipment at the end of the lease. Rowland told council the company has completed 71 renewable energy projects in Ontario.
He said he was asking for a municipal support resolution that would allow the company to submit an application to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). “This is not final approval. If we win a contract, the full zoning and site plan process still comes back to you.”
Councillors and residents raised concerns ranging from safety to transparency to the mayor’s use of strong mayor powers.
Resident Liz Wheeler, who lives next to the originally suggested site on the north side of Highway 15, said she had spoken with neighbours. “I canvassed about 10 houses and people were really mad they weren’t included in this consideration,” she said.
Wheeler said she was worried about safety and capacity. “Rideau Lakes has a volunteer fire department that is not prepared to respond to these types of events. We shouldn’t be asking this of them,” she said. “I’m asking council to vote no. That is a vote to protect our community from foreseeable and unmitigated risk.”
Resident Sabina Barrett, who also lives near the proposed site, told council she is still working through the material. She said she supports renewable technology in principle but is unable to take a firm position without more time and clarity.
“These are just some initial impressions,” she said. “I’m an immediate neighbour. I care about this community very much.”
Barrett told council the rapid timeline and the amount of documentation has made it difficult for residents to make an informed decision.
“I just want to make sure that if I’m going to support something or not, I have a good understanding of it, and that takes time,” she said. “The sheer volume of information is incredibly difficult to sift through. It’s overwhelming.”
She added that she is “in principle, not opposed” to a battery storage facility but needs more time to fully understand the proposal before she can support or reject it.
“It’s premature for me to say I support the project based on my current level of understanding,” she said. “I just want time to process. I want an opportunity for myself and my neighbours to really understand what we’re saying yes or no to.”
Other residents spoke about fears over fire risk in a heavily wooded area, possible groundwater contamination, and the effect on neighbouring farms and property values.
Coun. Paula Banks pressed the mayor on why the directive was issued before the agenda was released. She said residents had contacted her asking why they were not informed. “People deserve to know what is coming,” Banks said. She also questioned whether strong mayor powers were being used appropriately and asked staff to obtain legal clarity.
Deputy Mayor Sue Dunfield supported holding a public meeting. “People need the chance to ask questions,” she said. “It worked well the last time we had public meetings on these.”
Coun. Dustin Bulloch said the proposal deserved a fair and informed hearing. “If we are going to consider this seriously, we need the public consultation before we meet to decide anything,” he said.
Council voted to direct staff to organize an in-person public meeting in early December. A special council meeting will follow at least 48 hours later, with a final vote expected before the developer’s provincial deadline of Dec. 18.
Chief Administrative Officer Shellee Fournier will prepare a report addressing Banks’ concerns about the directive, the approval process, the status of municipal authority under the procurement rules, and any questions that may be sent by residents to the municipality about the project.
The date and location of the public meeting will be announced once staff confirm a venue and the developer’s availability.
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