Editor,
As time goes by as a citizen of Meaford, I keep getting dragged further into not just this TC Energy’s boondoggle but how municipal council seem to be ignoring indisputable facts relating to Energy Storage and therefore not being totally transparent in their responsibilities to their constituents. In my opinion this Pumped Storage Project has got to the point that I am witnessing questionable conduct led by a powerful corporation in partnership with our elected municipal Council.
Hereby I have submitted my resignation from the Ensuring Sustainable Advisory Committee. I will not take part with any entity that in my humble opinion seem to put ethics aside and stay focused only on one option: and that is a terrible option.
Why Now?
Every council meeting, every PSAC meeting, every town hall there sits TCE’s representative: at every one!! At the last council meeting (Sept 22) there sat Clark Little, TCE’s chief let me say: information manipulator. He is there to keep our council in line and he is doing just that. So read on Meaford constituents: this is NOT a done deal and it had best for all to stand up and stop this illogical and ill-advised project that has been sold to our elected council. Some, who along with our current Mayor in the last election ran on the platform “say no to TCE PSP”. Now they sure look to me that they are all “ducks in a row” in formation behind TC Energy: a non-elected but very powerful adversary.
So here are some thoughts that I assume like always in the past, will be ignored. The simple reason is they cannot defend this project: it is just a boondoggle! Time for “Elbows Up” people! Can we trust our governments to do what is right?
IF TCE is awarded this contract there is a possibility, given the 50+ year monopoly they will be given to supply energy storage, that they will sell the agreement in its entirety to a third party. Such entities would likely not be Canadian. Also keep in mind that if TCE somehow gets this PSP approved they then can easily borrow (leverage) significant funds (many Billions of dollars), using the income from this 50+ year duration, to further the proprietary interests of TCE and not necessarily SON or Meaford. It would be wise to note that without scrutiny, they could “double bill” for the energy being managed here: first charge for the water that is pumped uphill: 1420 Megawatts and then charge for the 1,000 Megawatts that is regenerated by water flowing downhill. It is certainly accurate to assume that one or all these scenarios is/are being considered here. If not, then at least TCE hangs in for the construction and profits of Pumped Energy storage all paid for by Ontario tax and ratepayers.
In several letters over the past 4 years several educated people, me, as well as experienced engineers have repeatedly emphasised these facts with regards to Pumped Energy Storage Option:
– Energy capture efficiency is 72% at best. It takes 1400MW to produce 1000MW of energy storage: 400MW wasted every cycle,
– Financial (likely $7 billion+)
– Timelines: anywhere from 4 to 7 years to complete the project
– Potential Environmental Damage: species at risk, toxins created during and after construction, damage to Escarpment and Georgian Bay.
– Infrastructure damages: Bridges, roads, dust and noise from construction
– The safety and investment loss of our residents living below the project
– Construction Challenges: build a 375- acre reservoir on DND and Escarpment lands. Tunnel from the reservoir down to Georgian Bay shoreline (these tunnels are about the same size of subway lines). Tunnel or lay high power transmission lines to Wasaga Beach and then run above ground transmission lines to the Barrie transfer station: about 100 km from the project.
However, NONE of the multitude of the cited construction challenges listed above are necessary to create 1,000 Megawatts of energy storage capacity! NONE! There are better energy storage systems available today and more are coming online. There are no longer any advantages to Pumped Energy Storage. Modern Battery Storage technologies are more efficient (92%), Way less costly (for 1000MW for 50 years about $2Billion**), can be built in 2 years with no risk to our environments. Like I wrote: with NONE of the PSP challenges!
**With battery Energy Storage we would not construct a monster 1000MW project in the middle of nowhere. We would construct smaller more efficient (250MW?) systems right beside the grid transfer stations where needed across Ontario. This would help local smaller communities and still using our Indigenous partners. We could build these only when they become needed which would stretch out the costs over several years and be able to take advantage of newer technologies as they are developed: a lot of improvements will happen in 50 years!
OR if it proves a better option, we can meet demand by using Quebec or Manitoba available excess hydro power and support our neighbouring provinces. Again, with none of the PSP destructive and expensive requirements except transmission lines.
This TC Energy’s Pumped Storage proposal is not a done deal. it is not the best option for Meaford. Let’s make our local and provincial governments accountable for what I believe are questionable actions and make them do what is best for all and not just a corporation.
Pat Maloney, Meaford
