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When a rural township accepts a BESS system in its region, it opens the door to the installation of massive industrial wind turbines and solar energy facilities nearby. After all, government, industry, media, and climate activists can then say that, with a BESS system already installed in the region, the intermittency problem of wind and solar power can be solved through local power storage.
In this way, BESS systems can be considered a “gateway drug” to even more significant problems down the road. Unless you want the main street of your town to be marred by spinning turbines, as is now the case in Chrysler just south of Ottawa (click on the image below to watch), a BESS system is the last thing you should want anywhere nearby.
This important episode considers the safety, cost, and effectiveness of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) being planned to back up wind and solar power across the Western world.
Today’s program concentrates on the “value chain” analysis co-host Todd Royal has conducted of BESS installations. He explains the considerable cost associated with these systems when one considers everything in the value chain — initial design, marketing and government lobbying, community consultation, construction, operation, maintenance, and final decommissioning, disposal, and decontamination of the BESS site. Todd says that, without massive support from the public purse, most BESS companies would go out of business.
Also, on today’s show is a fascinating interview with Monika Miller, a courageous and knowledgeable mother, wife, and community member working with the “Alliance to Protect West Carleton” to oppose the installation of a huge BESS system in Fitzroy Harbour, Ottawa, Canada. Monika has over 25 years of experience as an administrative professional in a variety of businesses, including healthcare, police services, and hotel/restaurant. “Cutting through the noise” is her specialty.
Monika has found much fulfillment in helping her community. She believes one person can make a difference, and many together provide a positive ripple to our society. In today’s program, she explains the concerns of rural residents about the proposed BESS project and what they have done so far to prevent the system from ruining their neighborhoods.
References relevant to this program:
- “Alliance to Protect West Carleton,” website of the group Monika Miller works with to stop the BESS project in Fitzroy Harbour, Ottawa, Canada
- Clarke Kelly, City of Ottawa Councillor, Ward 5, West Carleton-March, Ottawa. To tell Councillor Kelly your opinion about the BESS system under consideration for Fitzroy Harbour, please click here.
- “The energy storage conundrum,” by Francis Menton, the President of the American Friends of the GWPF, December 1, 2022
The Other Side of the Story airs on Saturday and Sunday at 7 PM ET. Listen on iHeart Radio, our world-class media player, or our free apps on Apple, Android, or Alexa. The day after airing on talk radio, all episodes can be found on podcast networks worldwide.
Image: Handout / AFP
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