Proposed battery storage site in Ottawa’s west end raises safety concerns from residents

A company proposing a battery storage facility in Ottawa’s west end held a townhall Sunday to hear from concerned residents. CTV’s Kimberley Fowler reports.

A proposed battery energy storage site in the city’s rural west end was at the center of discussion during an open house on Sunday, with concerned residents coming to heads with the company spearheading the project.

Gatineau-based energy company Evolugen is looking to build a battery energy storage system (BESS) in the community of South March in a project the company says will help address a significant increase in demand for electricity over the next 25 years.

BESS are large storage facilities that gather unused electricity during low-usage times and distribute it during peak times each day to supplement the power grid. The plan is for around 285 shipping-container sized units, containing battery modules, on 14 acres of land.

The proposed site off Marchurst Road has raised concerns from residents who are warning about the facility’s proximity to homes, as well as safety concerns such as impact to water sources, fire risks and environmental concerns.

About 100 residents came to Evolugen’s open house at the West Carleton Secondary School on Sunday to ask questions and get information on the project.

Courtney Argue, a West Carleton farmer, raised concerns about several safety issues, including the well water that she relies on nearby.

“We do have a lot at stake and things like the water, it cannot be remediated if there is toxicity,” she said. “There’s no amount of liability insurance that can save our way of life if and when things go wrong.”

Argue says other residents and community organizations have raised environmental concerns, with protected wetlands being found beside the proposed site. She says a petition urging the city to reject the site has reached over 850 signatures in about one month.

“I think at the end of the day, they don’t have the trust in our community and I’m so sorry that this might be their fate, however, we are politely asking them to evict themselves from Ward 5,” she said.

Ottawa’s city council approved guidelines last month that would require companies wanting to build battery storage facilities to prove to Ottawa Fire Services that fire and risk management has been included in any proposal. It will also be required to install fire prevention and suppression systems.

The rules also limit the size of BESS projects to 20 per cent of the lot size or one hectare, whichever is lesser.

Another Evolugen battery storage facility was proposed near Fitzroy Harbour, but did not receive city approval.

Kanata-North Coun. Cathy Curry supports the plan to build the South March facility, saying a similar facility in her ward has been successful and businesses in the area are seeking alternative forms of energy as demand grows.

“I represent Canada’s largest tech park with 540 technology companies and so what I’m hearing from Kanata-North residents is that the more energy we have and the ability to store it for later use, the better,” she said.

“If we have energy stored then when the grid is overcapacity or if we ever lose energy, we can go somewhere to get extra energy.”

If all regulatory approvals go forward, completion of the site is expected by 2027. Evolugen’s website says the facility will provide benefits to the community, including grants for local organizations, job opportunities for residents, and reduced energy costs.

“We’re really excited to be doing this battery project. It’s one of two in the city of Ottawa,” said Geoff Wright, Evolugen’s Canadian head of development.

“I think with time people are going to realize that the risks are manageable and low and the benefits to the community and the grid are very high.”

With files from CTV News Ottawa’s Kimberley Fowler