We, the undersigned concerned residents and supporters of Central Huron and surrounding areas, respectfully petition Mayor Jim Ginn and Members of Central Huron Council to express our unwavering opposition to the proposed Heron Storage battery energy storage facility by FERMA Energy.

 

The scale and nature of this project would remove prime farmland, endanger sensitive environmental features, and introduce significant risks to our local emergency infrastructure, environment, public health, and the safety of our community.

 

Project Overview

• Project site: Lot 22 & Part Lot 21 Concession 2 Hullett (Hydro Line Road/Wildlife Line), directly adjacent to Clinton and critical community spaces.

 

• Scale: Approximately 40MW, 320MWh; over 10–15 acres of agricultural land; shipping container–style battery arrays.

 

• Context: Situated beside sensitive wetlands, Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area, Clinton Cemetery, five schools, key public spaces, and central agricultural lands.

Key Concerns

 

Health and Safety

• The science and precedent are clear: real-world experience consistently show that lithium-ion battery storage sites pose well-documented risks, including thermal runaway, catastrophic fire, toxic gas emissions, and environmental contamination—even when mitigation measures are in place.

 

• Local volunteer emergency response teams do not possess the specialized resources, training, or equipment required to manage battery-related fires or chemical incidents. Incidents in Ontario and internationally show fires are difficult to extinguish, requiring equipment and expertise not available within our local volunteer emergency services.

 

• The site’s proximity to schools, athletic fields, water systems, wildlife habitats, livestock, and private homes amplifies the potential for direct harm in the event of system failure or disaster.

Environmental Impact

•  Permanent loss of highly productive farmland is irreversible and undermines our agri-food economy and rural heritage—Ontario is already losing an average of 319 acres of farmland each day, equivalent to nine family farms a week, amplifying the urgency to protect the land that remains.

 

•  Immediate adjacency to conservation lands, sensitive wetlands, and the Hullett Wildlife Conservation Area raises serious concerns about irreversible contamination of water, soil, and local ecosystems in the event of leaks or accidents.

 

• Threats from electromagnetic fields (EMF), chemical leachate, and hazardous waste from batteries threaten human and livestock health and are not fully defined nor credibly addressed to the satisfaction of residents or experts.

Community and Economic Factors

•  There is no evidence of meaningful local economic or employment benefit; operations and profits are slated for ownership outside this community.

 

• The development would strain municipal roads, emergency services, and community infrastructure during its construction, operation, and eventual decommissioning—without providing corresponding benefits.

 

• Council and residents have not been party to transparent, good-faith consultation or provided clear, credible safety or environmental plans by the proponent.

Governance and Transparency

• Repeated requests for thorough risk assessment, contingency planning, and operational detail have been met with vague, insufficient, or delayed responses.

 

• The absence of regional control over key decision-making intensifies community distrust in the long-term safety and suitability of this project for Central Huron.

Summary of Position

 

The proposed Heron Storage battery facility presents unacceptable risks to community health, safety, farmland, and the environment. These risks far outweigh any claimed benefits, which remain speculative and serve interests outside Central Huron.

 

The undersigned therefore call upon Central Huron Council to deny all rezoning and permitting requests for this project, upholding the principles of public safety, stewardship, and accountability.

 

Central Huron is built on stewardship of our environment, agricultural productivity, and mutual respect—values not reflected in the current proposal. Residents commit to staying engaged and informed, ensuring council decisions reflect our collective voice. We trust Council will demonstrate leadership by rejecting this proposal and safeguarding our community’s future.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

The Undersigned Concerned Residents and Supporters of Central Huron and Surrounding Areas

 

 

 

References

• Mrozik, W., Rajaeifar, M.A., Heidrich, O. et al. (2021). Environmental impacts, pollution sources and pathways of spent lithium-ion batteries. Energy & Environmental Science, Royal Society of Chemistry. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2021/ee/d1ee00691f

 

• Ontario Farmland Trust. (2022, July 4). Ontario Losing 319 Acres of Farmland Every Day. https://ontariofarmlandtrust.ca/2022/07/04/ontario-losing-319-acres-of-farmland-every-day/

 

• ScienceDirect. (2024). Review of gas emissions from lithium-ion battery thermal runaway. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352152X24008739

 

• Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs. (2024). ‘We are playing with fire’: Fears persist over battery storage. https://www.oafc.on.ca/about/announcements/fire-news-headlines/we-are-playing-fire-fears-persist-over-battery-storage

 

• Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs. (2024). GN 6-50 Lithium-Ion Batteries. Guidance Note. https://www.oafc.on.ca/sites/default/files/Section%2021/Guidance%20Notes/GN%206-50%20Lithium%20Ion%20Batteries.pdf