Made-in-Ontario Pumped Storage will enhance province’s energy supply mix

Government of Ontario outlines next steps on Ontario Pumped Storage Project

TORONTO, Jan. 11, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TC Energy Corporation (TSX, NYSE: TRP) (TC Energy or the Company) announced today that it will continue to advance the Ontario Pumped Storage Project (Project) with its prospective partner Saugeen Ojibway Nation, and begin work with the Ministry of Energy (Ministry) and the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), to establish a potential long-term revenue framework for the Project. Further, TC Energy and Saugeen Ojibway Nation will assist with the Ministry’s evaluation of the Project’s broader societal and economic benefits.

This decision comes after direction from Ontario’s Minister of Energy (Minister) to the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), outlining next steps related to the Project including a cost recovery agreement. Subject to an agreement with the IESO, this direction from the Minister will facilitate the continued development of the Project, that if constructed, will support Ontario’s long-term plans to grow the economy and build a sustainable, reliable and clean electricity system.

TC Energy and Saugeen Ojibway Nation look forward to continuing work with the Ministry, the IESO and the OEB to advance this Project, which will play an important role in accelerating the province’s ambitious plans for clean economic growth.

The Ontario Pumped Storage Project represents a made-in-Ontario solution – it will be designed, engineered, and built by a domestic supply chain. During construction, the Project will create 1,000 well paid, unionized jobs and over 75 per cent of the total materials and supplies will be provided by Ontario-based companies.

The Project remains subject to the approval of TC Energy’s board of directors and Saugeen Ojibway Nation. It is expected that construction for the Project would begin in the latter part of this decade with in-service in the early 2030s, subject to receipt of regulatory and corporate approvals. Further, any future capital allocation decisions will align with TC Energy’s net capital expenditure limit of $6-7 billion post-2024.

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“The Minister’s direction to advance this Project is a strong signal that the work TC Energy and Saugeen Ojibway Nation are doing is important. It recognizes the critical role that pumped hydro storage will have in enhancing the diversity of Ontario’s supply mix and achieving a net-zero electricity grid.”