Seven candidates running in Meaford, Ontario’s 2026 municipal election oppose TC Energy’s proposed pumped storage project:
- Caryn Colman, mayoral candidate
- Justin Perks, mayoral candidate
- Darcy Chapman
- Eric Ennis
- Brandon Forder
- Amanda Greenfield
- Jim McPherson
One candidate, John Clark, and the acclaimed deputy mayor remain undecided.
Mayoral candidate Shirley Keaveney and three council candidates, Tony Bell, Elgin Pecjak and Adam Vaughan, have not yet responded to our questionnaire.
To read the candidates’ full responses, please click here.
What Is TC Energy Proposing in Meaford?
TC Energy is seeking a contract from the Government of Ontario to finance the construction of a 1,000-megawatt pumped storage facility in the Municipality of Meaford.
The project would use electricity to pump water uphill when demand is low. The water would later be released downhill through turbines to generate electricity when demand is higher.
IESO Says the Project Does Not Compare Favourably to Alternatives
Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) has concluded that TC Energy’s Meaford pumped storage project does “not compare favourably to currently available alternatives, including battery storage or a portfolio of other non-emitting resources.”
The IESO also found that the project is not “able to provide net benefits to Ontario’s electricity system or ratepayers.”
Ontario Has Better Energy Storage Options
Lower-cost and more flexible alternatives are already available.
In addition to stationary batteries, electric vehicle batteries could be paired with wind and solar power to help Ontario build a reliable, renewable electricity system.
According to the IESO, Ontario is expected to have between 6.4 million and 8.1 million electric vehicles by 2040.
When connected through bidirectional chargers, EV batteries can store surplus wind and solar electricity and return power to the grid when it is needed most.
By 2040, Ontario’s EVs could potentially provide between 64,000 and 81,000 megawatts of power to the grid. That is up to 81 times the proposed output of TC Energy’s 1,000-megawatt pumped storage project.
Ontario Is Spending $285 Million to Keep the Project Moving
Despite the IESO’s findings, Energy Minister Stephen Lecce announced in January 2025 that he had directed the IESO to give TC Energy $285 million to complete detailed cost estimates and environmental assessments for the project.
With more affordable and flexible storage options already available, Ontario should not force electricity consumers to finance a pumped storage project that the province’s own electricity system operator says will not provide net benefits.