Evolugen, a Gatineau-based renewable energy company owned by Brookfield Renewable, is seeking to build a battery energy storage system (BESS) at the site. BESS facilities are large batteries housed in containers that store renewable energy and feed it back into the grid at off-peak. . In 2025, the City of Ottawa established official plan and zoning provisions for battery energy storage uses in accordance with new Official Plan policy. BESS is an emerging technology using batteries and associated equipment to store excess energy from the electrical grid, which can then discharge. . Rural councillors rejected a second attempt by Gatineau-based company Evolugen to win support for a large battery facility in rural west Ottawa, after dozens of people weighed in over the course of a nearly 10-hour meeting Thursday. The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based. . How will Ottawa Fire Services respond to a fire incident involving a BESS? Ottawa Fire Services (OFS) develops emergency response plans based upon the occupancy and hazards for the location and then develops standardized response codes that meet these needs. OFS will ensure that fire protection.
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