City Council Votes to Grant Evolugen a Municipal Support Resolution For South March BESS Project
- Ward 5 Staff
- Jun 12
- 2 min read
Councillor Kelly's statement following today's vote at the June 11, 2025, City Council meeting
Good afternoon.
This is a statement that I was working very hard to never have to write.
Today, despite the efforts of both my office and the many community members who have been working very hard, pulling the available political levers, and presenting our concerns in a time frame that was unnecessarily shortened, Council voted to grant Evolugen a Municipal Support Resolution for their South March BESS project.
For almost two years, we have been working to ensure that our residents had their voices heard. I pushed very hard for answers and for honest discussion, and though I am frustrated with how the process played out, I now need to work at ensuring the community has their concerns addressed during the submission process that is to come during the proponent’s zoning bylaw amendment application.
I will continue to push for Ward 5 voices to be heard at every opportunity. I know that this news will cause people to feel various emotions. My door will be open to any resident who wants to talk further about this process, regardless of whether or not you supported the project.
Here are my comments at Council today, again encouraging my council colleagues to vote against an MSR for the South March BESS Project.
Here are the letters I sent to my Council colleagues in advance of today's meeting. They included thoughtful, reasonable arguments against the project in its proposed location from the following groups:
The Ottawa Carleton Wildlife Centre
Ontario Federation of Agriculture
Friends of the Carp Hills:
The Ontario Landowners Association:
If you have a question about this or any other Ward or City issue, just send an email to Clarke.Kelly@Ottawa.ca or call our office at 613-580-2475.
Be sure to stay in touch with what's happening in West Carleton-March:
• Drop-in and speak with Councillor Kelly at his next Open House
• Follow us on social media at X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram or Bluesky
