Marmora Pump Storage project update

Planning is underway for the next steps in the Marmora Pump Storage project.

A final report that was presented to Hastings county council outlined how the project could be an opportunity to provide clean energy to the area.

Officials indicated there would be “a lot more studies, including on traffic management in the communities, ahead of any startup.”  That overall, transforming an abandoned mine into a pump storage project would be an asset to the province.

Project manager Steven Fitzgerald:

“Collecting information so we can get a representation of what the current environment is, see how our project will impact that. And the proposed mitigation or avoidance measures to minimize the impact.”

Fitzgerald noted there are “concerns about wells and how they will be impacted. Our intent is to determine this before we actually get into construction.”

“And aquatic we’ll be continuing our fish community as needed in terms of the surrounding water bodies. How we’re going to impact them through our de-watering.”

Fitzgerald also commented further, “We’ll just be doing baseline tests to make sure we know what the environment is and what impact that construction and operation has.”

Studies will continue this year on the impact on the fish from the project’s de-watering process.

Fitzgerald noted it would provide Ontario flexible clean reliable energy for 90-plus years.

There would be 2,000 MWH of energy storage with broad operating range and fast response capability; enough to power 400,000 homes.

The cost of the project, being put forward by Northland Power Inc and Ontario Power Generation, has not yet been determined, and will be in the next stage of consideration.