Residents will get a chance to learn more from TC Energy on the proposed Georgian Bay Hydroelectric Pumped Storage Facility.
TC Energy is holding a public consultation meeting as part of the feasibility study terms for the project planned for the shoreline of National Defence lands in Meaford Ontario.
The public meeting takes place at the Meaford Community Centre on Wednesday starting with a short presentation at 6 p.m.
The project would create about 800 construction jobs, and 23 full-time jobs once it is operational, which is scheduled for 2027.
The Group Save Georgian Bay worries about the potentially devastating impact the facility will have on the fish population and aquatic ecosystems of Georgian Bay. The save Georgian Bay group is made up of environmental consultants, electrical engineers, industry experts and other volunteers concerned.
The group said a hydroelectric pumped storage facility using the same technology in Ludington, Michigan has killed millions of fish a year in Lake Michigan for decades. The system proposed by TC Energy will pump millions of cubic metres a day directly from Georgian Bay to an uphill reservoir generating electricity on its downhill return to the Bay.
Save Georgian Bays is concerned about the effects of the turbidity caused by the construction and daily operations of this facility will also affect shoreline bird and fish spawning habitats, drinking water filtration and the tourism industry.
The clear-cutting of escarpment forest and the creation of a high voltage power transmission corridor will cause further environmental harm. TC Energy is exploring options to minimize the potential effects of power transmission, including reviewing both underwater and overland transmission route options.
TC Energy promises site-specific studies of fish habitat will help them will design appropriate mitigation measures to minimize the impacts.
Project-related structures in Georgian Bay will be fully assessed to evaluate potential effects on fish and fish habitat, commercial and recreational water use, water navigation and safety.
The company says most turbines and pump systems will be below grade which will reduce sound. but site-specific studies of noise will be a component of the environmental assessment process.
TC Energy says the proposed facility would not use fuel in the generation of electricity — it would capture a third of the forecasted excess power that would otherwise be exported or wasted, store it and return it to Ontario to meet the province’s needs.
Two more open houses are planned at the Meaford Community Centre on January 16 and January 23.
