Construction of the North Glengarry Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) began in early May and is progressing on schedule. The Compass Greenfield Development (CGD) project at the St-Isidore Transformer Station at Skye Road drew attention from local residents concerned about potential environmental impacts and the adequacy of emergency response plans.
CGD Project Manager Elijah Garrett told The Review that the project is progressing well and remains on track to achieve commercial operations in the last quarter of 2025.
Garrett also emphasized that the company has taken additional steps to help assure concerned residents about the BESS’ safe operations and environmental safeguards.
“At our community meeting in April 2025, we had many constructive conversations and were glad to address a number of outstanding questions posed by attendees,” Garrett said.
“Since then, we’ve received limited follow-up, with only a few members of the broader community reaching out directly.”
At the April meeting, residents requested CGD representatives add nearby residents as additional insured parties on the company’s insurance policy, meaning they would be covered in the event of certain incidents determined by the insurer.
“In response,” Garrett explained, “we will be contacting neighbours within a one-kilometre radius in the near future to offer them this opportunity.”
The North Glengarry BESS website states that the project should be completely installed, connected to the electrical grid, and operational between the end of 2025 and early 2026. CGD will conduct remote monitoring and annual maintenance during the BESS’ operational life, expected to last until approximately 2047.
