CAFES has long been active in advocating for a more enabling planning and zoning regime for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) in the City of Ottawa.
Most recently, CAFES delivered an impactful public delegation during the Planning and Housing Committee meeting on February 5th, 2025. You can watch the recording of the committee meeting here (CAFES starts presenting at 59:40) and check out our presentation below. We are concerned that the City’s permitting rules are too restrictive and this will prevent energy storage projects to come to Ottawa.
Prior to this, in October 2024, CAFES made a formal submission when the City made a proposal to amend the Official Plan and pass a Zoning By-law Amendment, and again submitted an alternative proposal when this came to the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee (ARAC) on January 23rd, 2025. Watch the ARAC committee recording here (CAFES starts at 1:49:30) and see our presentation at this link.
Our successful lunch and learn event at the Kanata North Technology Park on January 30th, entitled “Ottawa’s Electric Future”, was incredibly successful with about 100 residents, community leaders, not-for-profits, business leaders, tech people, engineers, Ottawa Hydro and City Councillors attending. The session was opened by Councillor Cathy Curry, speaking both as Kanata North Councillor and as acting Deputy Mayor. The launch of the Dunsky BESS Report was well received. You can read more about this event here.
Stay tuned for a full CAFES project report on our BESS advocacy work - coming in March 2025!
