Power company says it’s halting energy storage plan after backlash, death threat
A Toronto-based power corporation says it’s halting its proposal for an eastern Ontario energy storage facility after facing intense local pushback — including someone uttering a death threat during an open house.
The mayor of Elizabethtown-Kitley said while police were called to the meeting — and he regrets how it went down — Baseload Power ultimately failed to gain traction because it did not consult widely or early enough.
“Don’t leave it until the last minute,” said Mayor Brant Burrow of how the company handled its pitch.
In recent weeks, several Ontario communities have been asked to lend their support to renewable energy projects.
It comes as the Independent Electricity Systems Operator (IESO), which manages the province’s energy needs, is soliciting pitches from companies on how to help shoulder Ontario’s growing power demands.
These kinds of systems boost capacity of the hydro network, storing energy generated at off-peak times to be used when demand is higher.