Green Energy Projects

Proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Projects 

Solar Flow-Through Funds (SFF) has partnered with Abundant Solar Energy Inc. (ASE) to participate in the Ontario's Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) long-term capacity procurement process to ensure reliability in Ontario's electricity grid and contribute to the global reduction of greenhouse gases and use of fossil fuels. As part of the procurement, SFF is proposing to install utility grid-connected battery energy storage systems (BESS) along side the existing operational solar sites located at: 1329 Hinch Road, Newburgh, 1482 Nugent Road, Newburgh and 238 Miller Road, Enterprise. 

Solar Flow-Through Funds and Abundant Solar Energy Inc. attended the October 17, 2022 Council meeting by way of delegation to provide Council, staff and members of the public with an overview of the proposed works. To view the information as presented to Council, please see Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). To learn more about the project please visit the Abundant Solar Energy Inc.'s Community Engagement page. 

Agricultural Lands

Proponents of Green Energy projects need to be aware that the Township of Stone Mills recognizes the importance of all lands having agricultural capabilities, regardless of the designation assigned to specific lands by the Official Plan of the Township of Stone Mills.

Effective June 20, 2016, all Green Energy project proposals being submitted to the Township of Stone Mills for endorsement, shall include a report prepared by a qualified professional recognized by the Ontario Institute of Agrologist, that clearly identifies the classification of these lands in accordance with the Canada Land Inventory system.  Furthermore, Green Energy projects which include lands that have been classified as, or meet the criteria of Class 1, 2, or 3 of the Canada Land Inventory system, and which are intended to be included as part of a Green Energy project, shall not receive an endorsement by Council.

Proponents of Green Energy LRP and FIT projects are strongly encouraged to locate these projects upon lands that clearly have no or minimal agricultural capability. These requirements shall specifically not apply to Micro-FIT projects being submitted by the land owner.

Agreements Required

Proponents of Green Energy projects should be aware that the Township recognizes the importance of the move towards green energy resulting in a lesser reliance upon fossil fuels and the more conventional forms of energy production.  However, the Township further recognizes the importance of locating Green Energy projects well away from residential dwellings and other sensitive land uses.

As a result, proponents of these projects are now required to enter into an agreement with the Township.  These agreements serve two purposes.  Firstly, any siting or other concerns relating to a specific proposal would be addressed through the agreement.  Secondly, the agreement provides for the development of a Community Vibrancy Fund whereby proponents of projects would pay their fair share towards the management and services provided by the Township.  The execution of the agreement with the Township is a pre-requisite to the endorsement of a project by Council.  Specific agreement templates were developed for the Large Renewable Procurement program and the Feed In Tariff program and these agreements can be viewed as follows:

• Large Renewable Procurement Community Vibrancy Fund Agreement (Final Version)
• Large Renewable Procurement Road Use Agreement
• Feed In Tariff Community Benefits Agreement

To obtain more information respecting IESO and their programs, please refer to the following:

• IESO Home Page
• Feed In Tariff Program
• Micro Feed In Tariff Program

To understand the implications of renewable energy projects on your property taxes, please refer to the Property Tax Treatment of Renewable Energy Installations being a publication produced by the Ministry of Finance.

Current Projects

The Township of Stone Mills has acted as the host site of many renewable solar projects, ranging from micro FIT to LRP.

The Township of Stone Mills invested in its own FIT program project in 2011, which includes 560 solar panels with the capacity of 126kW, installed on our public works and salt storage buildings at 4500 County Rd 4.

In 2019, Blu Earth Renewables completed the 54MW "Loyalist" LRP project, with panels ranging from Craigen Rd to Centreville Rd. For more information regarding this project, visit: https://bluearthrenewables.com/projects/loyalist-solar-project/ 

Other large solar projects have been completed at County Road 1, south of the hamlet of Strathcona, and on Goodyear Rd. Numerous smaller solar projects have also been completed throughout Stone Mills Township.