A new battery storage plant that will support 150 jobs is coming to Tilbury.
A joint project between Quebec-based Boralex and Walpole Island First Nation, the plant will eventually store 80 megawatts of power – equivalent to powering 80,000 homes.
Ontario Minister of Energy and Electrification Stephen Lecce travelled to Chatham-Kent to make the announcement Friday.
“Battery storage is a critical component to support the responsible expansion of Ontario’s clean and reliable grid that will provide affordable energy to Ontario families and businesses,” Lecce said in his comments. “I want to congratulate Boralex and the Walpole Island First Nation community in reaching this milestone achievement which, once connected to the grid, will attract new investments and reduce energy costs for Ontario’s ratepayers.”
Chatham-Kent–Leamington MPP Trevor Jones echoed Lecce in his statement.
“Our government is working hard to ensure communities have reliable, affordable, clean power to support families and our critical farming, food processing and manufacturing sectors here in Chatham-Kent–Leamington,” Jones said.
The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has indicated that the province will need at least 60 per cent more energy in the next 25 years. To support the demand for more power, battery storage facilities will enable generated clean power to be stored and deployed when needed.