Select residents of Shuniah, Ontario, are deeply concerned about the proposed development of a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) on Mount Baldy Road.

This location, perched atop an ecologically sensitive watershed that belongs to the Lakehead Conservation Authority, drains directly into the Current River. The introduction of a BESS at this site jeopardizes this critical natural resource and raises serious environmental concerns such as groundwater contamination, noise/light pollution, and leakage of fire suppression agents. 

Furthermore, a significant safety risk looms over the residential neighbourhood due to the potential for thermal runaway—a scenario where a battery fire could ignite. The local volunteer fire department is neither trained nor equipped to handle such a specific and dangerous event and the location is outside of the limits for the Thunder Bay Fire Department. Given that Mount Baldy Road has a single entry and exit point, this heightened risk introduces a precarious situation for the evacuation of residents should a fire occur, putting lives at unnecessary risk. The road also houses a busy recreational area (Mt Baldy Ski Hill) which could further complicate evacuation measures in the event of an emergency. 

The company proposing the plant (Powerbank Corp.) confirmed at a public meeting that the plant will be remotely monitored via offices in Southern Ontario and there would be no full or part time employees on site. Should an incident occur, or there is a malfunction in the remote operating system, there is no one to attend in a timely fashion to avoid disasters such as thermal runaway.  Powerbank currently has no operating BESS facilities and the proposed facility on Mount Baldy Road will be the largest project to date; just the battery containers will encompass an area twice the size of an average Costco. The size of the project coupled with the companies lack of experience heightens our concerns.

This petition demands a reconsideration of the BESS project at its current location on Mount Baldy Road and urges decision-makers to find an alternative site that does not compromise environmental safety nor community well-being and needs to be located away from residential homes, recreation facilities, and major highways. 

We call upon citizens, environmentalists, and officials in Thunder Bay, Shuniah, surrounding municipalities, and Fort William First Nation to take proactive measures to ensure the safety and security of both the environment and local residents. 

Sign this petition to  urge the developers to responsibly select a more suitable location for the BESS.

We encourage anyone with questions to attend a public meeting hosted by the Municipality of Shuniah to voice your concerns directly to council members. October 14th at 7pm, 420 Leslie Ave.