Compass Greenfield Development (CGD) hosted a public meeting at the Chute-à-Blondeau Community Centre on Wednesday, April 23, to inform residents about the proposed Agrivoltaics solar power project near Highway 417 and Gourley Road. The site would occupy approximately 59 acres of land and combine farming and energy production in East Hawkesbury.
CGD contends Agrivoltaic projects integrate farming and electricity production to reduce environmental impact while helping meet Ontario’s growing energy needs.
To meet this rising demand, the province has encouraged companies like CGD to propose energy infrastructure projects to municipalities.
At the meeting, residents raised concerns about the loss of farmland, environmental impact, long-term costs, visual impact, and how the site will be decommissioned when the project ends.
CGD President Jonathan Cheszes explained that the company would be working with local arborists to ensure that regional vegetation and trees are used to shield the solar project from view.
East Hawkesbury Mayor Robert Kirby noted that the site’s soil is not considered prime farmland, so erosion and loss of agricultural land are not expected to be issues.
“Not only will the project not come with any costs for the Township, but it will also generate some revenue for us during its operation,” Kirby said.
The township would receive $1,000 annually per megawatt of electricity generated, providing a new revenue stream.
Eco East President and Green Party of Canada candidate for Prescott-Russell-Cumberland Thaila Riden asked CGD staff about environmental concerns and end-of-life protocols the company has in place for this project.
CGD staff said the project would use steel piles instead of concrete footings to reduce soil disruption. While there is no finalized recycling plan, the company expects panels and equipment to be reused or recycled.
“The company would set up a bond for decommissioning the site, covering the associated costs. I was happy to see that and appreciated the public information session being held,” Riden said.
Cheszes said that CGD plans to submit the project to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) for approval this fall under the Long-Term 2 Procurement process. If approved, the project could begin operating by 2030.
Interested individuals are encouraged to visit the project’s website for more information, including FAQs, here: https://chute-a-blondeauagrivoltaics.ca.
