24 Like Us on Facebook: BetterFarmingON Better Farming | May 2024 impact outside of it. Land planning and communication with the community also plays a role in safety. There is still potential for concerns to be addressed, reaching a compromise that allows rural communities to receive the intended benefits of BESS. Solutions and Alternatives Battery Energy Storage Systems offer benefits to the municipalities in which they are proposed. The development of these projects will provide more reliable energy to their respective grids, reducing the sale of excess energy at a loss during high production and low usage, and ensuring availability during peak usage times. Rangooni notes that these batteries will also help provide electricity during outages. Despite these benefits, concerns surrounding the projects emphasize the need for clarity in regulations and protocols with those affected. Proponents could also consider alternative sites, protecting valuable farmland. Rangooni stresses that BESS is safe and should not be a risk to nearby residents. “There are over hundreds of MW installed behind the meter at industrial places, where people work and are living, and they have been in for over 10 years. There are also utilities installing them within their systems too,” says Rangooni, noting that the technology is not new. “There are rigorous codes and standards for fire detection and suppression, and detailed prevention plans are always in place for these systems. Every proponent is responsible for working with fire officials on comprehensive safety requirements, fire suppression systems, and safety response systems.” It is important that proponents communicate these safety measures and plans to ensure that residents feel safe, and confirm that local fire departments have the capacity to meet the demands of both the BESS project and the community. Rangooni encourages those looking for more information to reach out to Energy Storage Canada and the proponents of local potential sites. For Ontario producers, the greatest concern is the use of farmland for non-agricultural purposes. As these projects move forward, it’s critical that alternative sites are reviewed, particularly if proponents suggest designs that do not allow for easy conversion back into farmland. Harrop shares that the Wellington Federation of Agriculture has created a list of considerations that they believe should be reviewed when sites for BESS are selected. The list includes soil classes, zoning related to on-farm diversified uses, setbacks from existing structures, emergency plans, and strategies for decommissioning. Wallace says that if concerns are addressed, BESS has the potential to benefit the Ontario economy. “Right now, the biggest concern is the usage of farmland for things other than farming. We are losing 319 acres a day to urban sprawl; if we can minimize that and use the land for farming, that is what we feel is best.” “OFA isn’t necessarily opposed to these projects moving forward, if we can find alternate ways to use them to reap the benefits.” Wallace suggests using brownfield sites or abandoned industrial sites, as Rangooni previously noted as the preferred location. Communication and community feedback will play a major role in reaching compromise. Wallace says, “If they can be done properly and we get the benefits, then yes, they could be good. “But there are valid concerns surrounding them that still need to be addressed.” BF EMILY CROFT Emily lives on a beef farm, raising Red Angus and Simmental cattle. She holds a Master of Science in Animal Biosciences from University of Guelph, with a focus on ruminant nutrition. Battery Energy Storage Systems
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