Dear Editor,
Meaningful community engagement is the cornerstone of effective and responsible project development. Since first introducing the Ontario Pumped Storage Project, we have prioritized early, continuous and meaningful interaction with Meaford residents, Indigenous nations and community groups as a way to not only foster trust, but also to ensure that the project aligns with the values and needs of the community.
By design, we introduced the project at the conceptual stage with the goal of gathering feedback and input from community members. We believed that by seeking these perspectives early on, we could shape a project that genuinely reflects the interests of Meaford.
Taking the community’s feedback to heart, we undertook a comprehensive redesign of the project. This process was not merely a superficial adjustment but a fundamental rethinking of our approach to address the main concerns raised by the community. We recognized that the protection of Georgian Bay was an important issue, and we committed to designing the project to the highest standards to ensure its preservation.
The redesigned project incorporates robust measures to safeguard the aquatic environment and the natural beauty of Georgian Bay. We understand the urgency of protecting fish and their habitat and have made significant changes to the design of the project’s inlet/outlet system through which water flows into and out of Georgian Bay.
In addition, the project will undergo rigorous assessment through the upcoming federal regulatory process. This thorough examination will validate that all the necessary precautions are in place and that our project adheres to the highest safety and environmental protection standards in Canada. We view this process as an essential step in demonstrating our commitment to transparency and accountability.
The collaborative efforts between TC Energy, Saugeen Ojibway Nation and Meaford residents to date, exemplify the importance of community engagement. By listening to and incorporating community feedback, we have designed a project that not only meets the critical energy needs of a growing province but also safeguards the environment for future generations. We believe that sustainable development is achievable through continuous collaboration, and we look forward to a continued dialogue with Meaford residents. We continue to host coffee chats every Thursday at our Sykes Street office and welcome the opportunity to speak to anyone who may have questions. More information is available at: www.poweredbymeaford.com/events.
Sincerely,
John Mikkelsen
Ontario Pumped Storage Project
