Committee approves regulations for battery energy storage systems

The Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee today moved to establish land-use policy for siting Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in Ottawa. The Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee today approved Official Plan and zoning amendments to establish land-use policy for siting Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in Ottawa. BESS are an emerging battery technology that can help make the electricity system more reliable by drawing and storing energy from the grid during off-peak hours, when demand is low, and discharging it back to the grid when needed. Battery storage is increasingly vital for personal and professional applications and the current dominant storage technology for utility-scale BESS facilities is lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly used in mobile phones and electric cars. While the Province is the regulator and owner of electricity generation supplies, municipalities have siting authority over new proposed renewable energy generation and storage projects, such as BESS. The amendments approved today would set policy direction for siting BESS within Ottawa’s rural and urban areas. BESS proponents will be required to demonstrate to Ottawa Fire Services’ satisfaction that effective fire and safety risk management is applied in the design of each facility. Proponents will also be required to install fire prevention and suppression systems, and must provide Ottawa Fire Services with site-specific training. The approved report also includes an approach to managing future requests for Municipal Support Resolutions (MSR) that are associated with a BESS. A Municipal Support Resolution is the mechanism the Independent Electricity Systems Operator (IESO) uses to have municipal governments endorse the energy projects that IESO procures. Under the proposed process, requests for MSRs that are associated with a BESS project are to be brought forward as part of a Zoning By-law amendment, and decisions on the MSR and the zoning amendment would be recorded as separate decisions. The Planning and Housing Committee will consider this report on Wednesday, February 5 before it rises to Council on Wednesday, February 12. The Committee also considered a report recommending the City acquire a large rural property northwest of Old Birch Road and Ferry Road in Fitzroy Harbour. The parcel would be acquired for environmental conservation. The Committee directed staff to prepare a supplementary report showing lands outside and inside the urban boundary that could benefit from additional City protections and conservation. Staff would consult with rural Councillors and bring forward a report that clarifies and updates the criteria for acquiring natural lands in the rural area. The property occupies a significant section of the City’s Natural Heritage System core areas and linkage areas. It has been used primarily as farmland, and while it is 60 per cent mature forests, about 40 per cent is pastureland that can be reforested. The property also has significant natural shoreline on the Ottawa River. In December, the Finance and Corporate Services Committee recommended proceeding with the acquisition, and that recommendation will rise to Council for consideration. If Council approves, available funding in the Environmental Land Acquisition Budget would be used to acquire these lands.  Except where indicated, items from today’s meeting will rise to Council on Wednesday, January 29.