Dear Editor:
The Township of Centre Wellington is considering a rezoning to allow for a 200MW battery energy storage plant in south Fergus on farm property next to lands that have been approved for homes for 6,000 people and zoned prime agricultural.
Having a battery energy storage plant so close to homes exposes people to the risk of toxic gas emissions and evacuation in the event of a fire. The protocol for fire fighting in these types of plants is to let the fire burn itself out over days or weeks and to spray water on the surrounding containers.
Centre Wellington has a dedicated volunteer fire department and we might have to rely on calling in neighbouring fire departments who may or may not be available. We don’t know the costs or the impacts of an emergency.
Centre Wellington has limited water supplies. Water is precious to us. Save our Water has concerns about this project.
Prime agricultural land is important for this community and the proposed project is larger than allowed as an accessory to farm use under the zoning bylaw and the provincial policy statement. The Wellington Federation of Agriculture has expressed concerns.
This isn’t a question of supporting green technology. There are other ways to do this that better reflect the goals and aspirations of this community – a community that deeply understands and supports environmental issues.
The time to express concerns about this proposal is now and let council know that Centre Wellington residents are not willing to welcome this plant in a residential area on prime agricultural land, and that we are not able to spare the water in the event of an emergency.
Email the mayor and your ward councillor.
Anthea Millikin,
Elora