GBA Flipping Book - Spring 2020

8 ≥ www.georgianbay.ca GBA UPDATE Spring 2020 HowWill TC Energy’s Pumped Storage Project Impact Georgian Bay? Proposed Project TC Energy (TCE) is proposing to construct a very large pumped storage facility just north of Meaford on land owned by the Department of National Defense (DND). The project is at the pre-design stage and TCE and DND are currently holding public consultations on the proposal. (TCE is the new name for TransCanada Corporation and is the majority shareholder of TransCanada Pipelines.) How it Works As per the diagrams, water would be pumped out of Georgian Bay into the reservoir above at low off-peak hydro rates, when most of Ontario’s energy needs are being supplied by low-carbon energy sources such as nuclear and wind energy. It would then be released down the steep slope to generate power at peak demand times, when we rely more heavily on natural gas-fired power plants. The current site was selected because it provides 150 m of vertical elevation above the lake and is within 100 km of a power grid that can handle the level of power the project is projected to produce. GBA Actions Although the project is proposed for a site on the west coast of the Bay, GBA is examining this project because we have several concerns about its environmental impact on Georgian Bay – notably an increase to fish mortality, water turbidity, water temperatures, and habitat destruction. These impacts will affect the entire Bay, and we are concerned about the precedent it will set. At this stage, GBA has gathered additional information on the proposal from TCE, DND and a local group opposed to the project, Save Georgian Bay. As we move forward, we will continue our research and discuss our findings with all appropriate stakeholders. We will support conversations with TCE about alternative locations and/or technologies for the project. Potential Benefits The main potential benefits of this project include: 1. At peak demand, gas-fired power stations are currently brought online. This project could reduce that output By Rupert Kindersley, Executive Director ENERGY Key Statistics ≥ Output: 1,000 MW  ≥ Stored energy: 8,000 MWh (1,000 MW per hour for 8 hours)  ≥ Flow rate in both directions: equivalent to ~42% of the average flow rate over the Canadian side of Niagara Falls (Horseshoe Falls) ≥ Efficiency: ~72% – i.e. for every 100 KW used to pump the water into the reservoir, 72 KW are generated when the water is released