TC Energy is seeking a contract from the Government of Ontario to finance the building of a 1,000 megawatt pumped storage facility in the Municipality of Meaford.
According to Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), TC Energy’s project does “not compare favourably to currently available alternatives, including battery storage or a portfolio of other non-emitting resources” and is not “able to provide net benefits to Ontario’s electricity system or ratepayers.”
In addition to stationary batteries, electric vehicle (EV) batteries can be combined with wind and solar energy to provide Ontario with reliable 24/7 electricity. According to the IESO, Ontario will have 6.4 to 8.1 million EVs by 2040.
If Ontario’s EVs are combined with bi-directional chargers, they could store surplus wind and solar energy and provide power back to the grid when it is needed. Specifically, by 2040, they could provide 64,000 to 81,000 mega-watts back to the grid. That is, their storage capacity will be up to 81 times greater than the proposed Meaford pumped storage project.
Nevertheless, in January 2025 Energy Minister Lecce announced that he has directed the IESO to give TC Energy $285 million to complete its detailed cost estimates and environmental assessments for its uneconomic project.
We asked the candidates: Do you support TC Energy’s proposal to build a pumped storage facility in Meaford?
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