the Ontario Pumped Storage project, led by TC Energy. Backed by a $285 million provincial investment to analyze the costs to build the facility, the project is expected to bring long term benefits to the region. “There’s a pumped storage plant at Niagara Falls, Ontario, and another in Niagara Falls, New York. It tells me this is not something new or undoable,” notes Mayor Kentner. “What TC Energy has done, however, has probably doubled or tripled the cost of the project to ensure no damage to Georgian Bay.” With this facility Mayor Kentner sees Meaford playing a role in Canada’s clean energy future. He recounts, “We consider ourselves part of what’s called the Clean Energy Frontier. When you have excess energy, you can’t shut down the nuclear plants, but you can store it in this Ontario Pumped Storage Project, a very good way to maximize the benefit of your nuclear fleet.” The municipality’s proximity to Bruce Power also opens up potential as a hub for medical isotopes, a byproduct of nuclear energy. “I think the future for Meaford is largely going to be at the leading edge of medical research. We’re just really well positioned for that,” says Kentner.“When you add in the medical isotope applications, the infrastructure, and our hospital network, we’re very well positioned.” The Meaford general Hospital is part of the Brightshores Health System,a six-hospital consortium that also includes a wellness and recovery centre and a research institute. “A lot of the towns the size of Meaford do not have a hospital,” Kentner suggests. “We had 19 182 day surgeries, including cataracts, endoscopy and orthopedic surgeries, over 14,000 emergency visits, 11,300 radiology procedures, 587,000 lab tests, clinics on dermatology and urology, so this is a hospital that is not your typical small town hospital.” BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE As the municipality prepares for the potential arrival of the Ontario Pumped Storage project, the need for housing is front and center. “I think we’re in a good place, except that if the Ontario pump storage happens, we are going to need a lot of worker housing overnight,” Mayor Kentner relays.“What we’re trying to negotiate is a situation in which enough care is 164 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 08
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx