(John Chippa file photo for BlackburnNews.com)

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A group called Save Georgian Bay plans a public information session tomorrow about TC Energy’s plan to build a pumped-storage power facility at the 4th Canadian Division Training Meaford property.

The organization wants to examine the proposal with a focus on economic, social, and environmental impact.

Presenters will include Environmental Engineering Consultant Bruce Rodgers, who said the intake will act as a giant vacuum sucking up water and everything in it.

“About 1,000 cubic metres per second taken in at the shoreline, so that makes it, as far as I’m aware, the biggest withdrawal of water for a single facility on Georgian Bay,” he said. “Nuclear power plants such as Darlington, Pickering and Bruce, they’re a fifth of the size, so they may withdraw somewhere between 150 and 200 cubic metres per second.”

The information session starts at 5 p.m. at the Coffin Ridge Winery on Concession 2 North in Annan.

“TC Energy said it will mitigate negative impacts on the environment and community, but that simply means they will attempt to make the impact less severe. That is not reassuring,” said Louise Green, a concerned Meaford resident.

“The proposed location is near communities, residences, and recreation areas. Aside from the construction period, the daily operations of the facility will create pollution. After this leak, we are further concerned about TC Energy’s commitment to the environment and the ability to uphold safety standards. We are risking the pristine Georgian Bay and our beautiful Niagara Escarpment for this project,” said Tom Buck, a founding member of Save Georgian Bay.

The group also questions TC Energy’s ability to operate the facility safely, as this is their first pumped energy project. Save Georgian Bay points to the recent leak of 1.4 million litres of oil from TC Energy’s Keystone crude pipeline in North Dakota.

“Since TC Energy have not built one of these plants before, I am nervous that the lake will leak, adding more groundwater to our already saturated ground. We have unique geology of clay only one meter below the ground that is nearly impermeable, keeping the water right at the surface. During construction, there will be thousands of tons of dirt that will be unearthed creating runoff into creeks and the bay each time it rains,” added engineer Rick Martinson.

A Save Georgian Bay petition is available at Change.org/SaveGeorgianBay and has generated over 9,000 signatures.

The Department of National Defence comment period about the proposal is open and concludes in March 2020. Comments may be sent to Holly King at ThirdPartyAccess@forces.gc.ca.