Lakeshore Welcomes Ontario Energy Minister

Mayor Bailey and Minister Smith discuss potential impacts of battery storage projects and how Lakeshore plans to protect rural areas

Lakeshore Mayor, Tracey Bailey, welcomed Ontario’s Minister of Energy, Todd Smith, and Essex Member of Provincial Parliament, Anthony Leardi, to show the potential impacts of proposed battery energy storage projects and energy infrastructure as well as share community concerns about the protection of the municipality’s rural areas. 

In order to meet the future demand for electricity, spurred by a growing population and new investments like the Stellantis-LGES facility in Windsor, the Government of Ontario has announced several measures, including the Independent Electricity System Operator’s (IESO) Expedited Request for Proposal process for battery energy storage system projects.  

As part of the RFP process, 15 proponents have expressed interest in the Municipality of Lakeshore, recognizing its central location in Southwestern Ontario, which will see significant economic growth and demand for electricity.  

Mayor Bailey and Minister Smith visited several of the proposed locations in northeast Lakeshore, as well as the Hydro One transfer station at Rochester Townline and County Road 46. 

“From greenhouses to battery storage facilities, maintaining the integrity of our rural landscape and farmlands has been a key focus of this Council over the first three months of our term,” said Mayor Bailey. “This visit was an opportunity to convey these concerns to Minister Smith and confirm that Lakeshore is at the table when it comes to delivering energy projects which are critical to the future of Lakeshore and our region.”

“Municipalities and Indigenous communities are key partners as our government builds the electricity generation and storage needed to support our success in attracting new jobs to the province including unprecedented investments, from electric vehicles and battery manufacturing to clean steelmaking,” said Minister Smith.

The provincial government has mandated that proposed projects require Municipal Support Resolutions. Minister Smith reaffirmed this requirement to Mayor Bailey during today’s visit and in a recent letter to the IESO making clear that proponents are expected to engage local councils and seek their approval for the proposed projects.

“Our government has empowered municipal councils to ensure that communities have a say in what is built in their municipalities. This is an important role, critical to meeting Ontario’s growing energy demand and achieving a clearer energy future,” said Minister Smith “I’m pleased to see communities, like Lakeshore, taking that opportunity seriously, to ensure projects will positively impact their residents for years to come.”

“Looking forward, Council will have important decisions to make on how these projects could move ahead in Lakeshore. We are asking tough questions and looking years down the road. I look forward to discussing that bold vision during our upcoming meeting,” Mayor Bailey added.

At the February 14, 2023 meeting, Council will consider a report which sets out specific criteria for proposed battery energy storage projects to receive a Municipal Support Resolution in Lakeshore.

Background

• At the January 10, 2023 meeting, Council received a report on 15 proposals for battery energy storage system projects in Lakeshore. The proposed project proponents are currently participating in the Independent Electricity System Operator’s Expedited Request for Proposal process. As part of that process, proponents are seeking Municipal Support Resolutions (MSRs) from the municipalities in which their proposed projects are located. [Council meeting video | Report to Council]
• Ontario has been operating with an electricity surplus for over a decade, and supply will continue to meet demand until at least 2025 without new electricity resources. The IESO’s Annual Planning Outlook, released in 2021, forecasts a need for new electricity resources, beginning in 2025 and 2026, and that the need will continue to grow thereafter.