Marmora Pumped Storage – Clean Energy Hub Project

By Linda Heron on Monday, June 19th, 2023

Posted in Fisheries, Hydroelectric, Industry, ORA Submissions, Pumped Storage, River Concerns

This closed-loop pumped storage Project does not seem likely to result in any serious negative impacts to other freshwater bodies, nor methylmercury contamination of fish tissue or greenhouse gas emissions, and it will provide clean backup power during the low-flow periods when small run-of-river hydroelectric facilities are shutting down because of reduced stream flow. Comparing the power output of this peak demand storage Project, and its minimal environmental impacts to the number of rivers it would have taken to generate 400 to 500 MW of power from dozens of small hydropower projects, makes it ORA’s preferred choice over conventional hydroelectric facilities.

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ERO-019-6647 – IESO Pathways to Decarbonization Study

By Linda Heron on Sunday, May 14th, 2023

Posted in Algae, Campaign, Clean Energy Credits, Dams, Energy, Environmental Registry, Heavy Metal Contamination, Hydroelectric, Industry, ORA Submissions, Pumped Storage, Regulatory, River Concerns, Rivers at Risk, Species at Risk, Water Quality

Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Reservoirs

The ORA will never be in favour of streamlining the regulatory, approvals and permitting processes as they were put in place to protect our natural environment and communities, and have already been significantly undermined.

Instead, we need strong and rigorous environmental assessment and robust public, Indigenous and stakeholder consultation if we are to build climate resilience into our air, land and freshwater resources.

I will briefly address my rationale and the dangers of streamlining the regulatory regime of hydroelectric facilities in particular, as it is commonly claimed by governments and industry to be ‘clean’, ‘green’ and ‘non-emitting. However, this is misleading the public at a pivotal time when we should be following the science.

Related Information:

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Marmora Pumped Storage – Crowe River

By Linda Heron on Tuesday, July 8th, 2014

Posted in Crowe River, Energy, Marmora Pumped Storage, Pumped Storage, Rivers at Risk

: Marmora Generating Station Proposal

















: The Marmora Pumped Storage power generation proposal is located in Marmora, Ontario, adjacent to the Crowe River.The Marmora project will use an open pit and an upper reservoir in a closed-loop configuration. Combination pumps/generators will pump water up into the reservoir during off-peak periods and then release it back down into the mine during on-peak periods to generate electricity. The design provides for an average head of 140 meters, producing 400 MW of generated power to enable time-shifting to support renewable energy sources and grid demand patterns.; Learn more about the project
Technology: Pumped Storage Hydro
Main Equipment: Francis combination pumps/generators
Fuel: Water
Capacity: 400 MW
Proponent: Northland Power