Residents across Armour Township, Burk's Falls, Ryerson Township, and the greater Almaguin area share a love for the outdoors. However, a proposal for a Lithium Battery Storage Facility in Armour Township threatens not only our ecosystem and waterways, but the health of residents, and the livelihood of businesses that rely on tourism as well. 

There is a reason why they chose this area -  it is sparsely populated but still an easy two hour drive from the GTA. This shows there are risks, but we are not the dumping grounds for hazardous material.  

Join us in the fight to encourage the Armour Township’s Council to reject the Lithium Battery Storage Facility proposal by signing our petition today! You can also email the Mayor and councillors of Armour Township to express your concerns. 

What risks does the Lithium Battery Storage Facility pose?

Structure Fire -  Lithium battery fires are impossible to extinguish, presenting a great risk to nearby homes. During the summer in particular, a fire at this facility could easily spread affecting homes far beyond the immediate area. A fire would also release chemicals that have serious and long term effects on local wildlife and residents. It would make the general area uninhabitable for generations. 

Strain on Local Resources - Lithium battery fires cannot be put out. They must burn until they extinguish. Our local fire fighting resources are already strained. This storage facility would require our local firefighters to gain additional training and equipment and would be a very dangerous fire to fight.

Water Contamination - The proposed location for the Battery Storage Facility  is within the Magnetawan River Watershed, as defined by the Ontario Watershed Information Tool. This mapping service shows there is water on the property that connects to the Magnetawan River Waterway. 

Air Pollutants - The chemicals in the battery will become airborne in the event of a fire, posing a great risk to the health of local residents, flora and fauna. Our area has seen our air quality deteriorate from wildfires in neighbouring provinces, nevermind a chemical fire in our own township. 

Diminished Property Values - The multitude of risks this storage facility carries has a great impact on the property values of the surrounding homes. In the event of a fire, the impact may be much farther reaching should the fire impact our waterways or ignite a wildfire. 

Minimal Economic Benefit - The company who has proposed the storage facility has committed to monitoring the facility remotely via cameras. This means there will be minimal local employment opportunities, apart from a singular landowner reaping the vast majority of the benefits. 

Risk to Local Businesses - Many local businesses rely on tourism to keep their businesses afloat. Any pollution could have dire consequences for our local economy, especially those reliant on a healthy ecosystem. This includes fishing and hunting outfits, short term rentals, the businesses along the main streets of our small towns and many, many more. 

Inadequate Remediation Plan - This storage facility is set to close in 2047 but the company has only set aside $60,000 to remediate the property. Even in today’s market, this is substantially under bid. We also run the even greater risk that this company will no longer exist in 20+ years and they won’t be liable for the remediation plan. 

Please email clerk@armourtownship.ca to express your opinion and ask questions. More information regarding the proposed BESS Facility can be found on the Armour Township website.