CollingwoodToday welcomes letters to the editor. They can be sent to [email protected]. Please include your daytime phone number and address (for verification of authorship, not publication). The following letter was written in response to a proposal by TC Energy to build a pumped storage facility on the shore of Georgian Bay in Meaford.
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I live directly below TC Energy’s proposed pumped storage project reservoir.
I have put the work in to understand this project and this company who may become my neighbour.
While they are important topics that concern me, I will not be discussing this project's impacts on fish, water, air and noise pollution, emissions, or other environmental detriments, as others have done a stupendous job in that regard. I would like to discuss the estimated regional economic impacts, and TC Energy’s record of incidents and noncompliance.
The term “NIMBY” is not useful, especially when used in a pejorative way to dismiss the valid concerns of those opposed. If it is fair of someone to support the project because it does not negatively impact them, then it is only fair that those it does negatively impact are free to oppose without being labelled a NIMBY. As proven with Covid-19, it’s important to have compassion for those who may be affected by something more than you are.
I have valid concerns regarding this project, and some of them are because the proposed location is in my front yard – but I would not wish this project upon your yard either. I’ve opposed TC Energy’s tactics and projects (expropriation for Keystone Pipeline) well before I knew they’d be in our neighbourhood, and I continue to oppose their tactics (noncompliant preconstruction clearing on Wet’suwet’en Territory without completing the necessary environmental fieldwork for 42 wetlands) to this day.
Let’s talk jobs. Through discussions with local residents, employment opportunity seems to be the main reason for support. We all want our community to provide opportunity. So, let’s take a closer look at TC Energy’s regional economic study prepared by ERM consultants.
ERM estimates that during “peak” preconstruction/construction periods, the project will require “up to” 141 workers within the Regional Study Area. The area covers Bruce, Grey, and Simcoe Counties. The total population for all three counties is 467,371 and a total area of 13,433 square kilometers.
With a population pool that big, 141 jobs doesn’t sound as auspicious it did at face value. It will only account for up to 14 per cent of the workforce required for this project during construction, with 892 jobs being hired from the rest of Ontario and Canada.
If you’re of the mindset that it doesn’t matter where the jobs are, as long it’s for the betterment of someone, somewhere, I would encourage you to apply that mindset to this project entirely. The inexpensive energy TC Energy will be storing and selling back to ratepayers for top price is currently energy that is sold to the US to offset their use of coal and gas. The environment doesn’t have borders, economic reach does.
Personally, I am okay with not saving a few dollars a year on electricity if it means less emissions entering our shared atmosphere.
The regional economic study states calculations for the benefits of the project were made “using the expected project inputs and the IOM.”
The IOM relies on the Statistics Canada 2015 dataset, and the “project inputs” were “estimates provided by TC Energy."
So when TC Energy cites their independent consultants' regional economic study touting direct jobs, they are citing their own estimates which they gave to ERM Consultants. This is why we need to apply a critical eye to the narrative that TC Energy is feeding us in all aspects of this project, not just what I’ve discussed here today.
Navigant Consulting prepared TC Energy’s Economic Analysis study.
According to Navigant Consulting, the company "is a specialized, global professional services firm that helps clients take control of their future. Navigant’s professionals apply deep industry knowledge, substantive technical expertise, and an enterprising approach to help clients build, manage, and/or protect business interests. With a focus on markets and clients facing transformational change and significant regulatory or legal pressures, the firm primarily serves clients in the… energy… industries.”
TC Energy’s independent consultant’s objective is to manage and protect TC Energy’s interests. To me, this hardly sounds independent.
TC Energy was known as TransCanada Pipelines until May 3, 2019.
TransCanada projects include the notorious Keystone Pipeline, and Coastal GasLink. TC Energy has been in the pipeline business for 60+ years. And yet – even with 60+ years of experience, their pipelines continue to leak and they continue to receive government-issued non-compliance orders.
According to the Canada Energy Regulator (CER), TC Energy had reported 222 safety incidents between 2008 and 2018 in Canada. This number is not including incidents reported in the USA or Mexico. Why did these incidents happen?
As per CER data reported, the incidents occurred due to engineering/planning, failure in communication, human factors, inadequate supervision, maintenance, natural/environmental forces, standards and procedures and tool/equipment failure.
Reported incidents from TransCanada companies include adverse environmental effects, explosion, fire, gas release, liquid release, operation beyond design limits, release of substance, and serious injury.
The data is available on CER’s website.
With a record such as this, how are we to have confidence that TC Energy’s first pumped storage project? Will it be safe? Is safety guaranteed? Will they be compliant?
“If you want to know the future, look at the past” – Albert Einstein.
To conclude, I am not against for-profit corporations. I am not against economic growth. I am not saying no to clean energy. I am against a misleading narrative.
I am against greenwashing. I am against non-compliant corporations. I am saying no to a non-compliant corporation with a poor safety record-holding 20 million cubic meters of water above my home for a greenwashed project. Wouldn’t you?
Taylor Raffy
Meaford, ON
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