Norfolk County to develop vibrancy fund

Chris Van Paassen, Norfolk Ward 4 Councillor.

Luke Edwards

Grant Haven Media

Renewable energy projects could power more than just people’s homes in the future.

At the Sept. 9 council-in-committee meeting, Norfolk councillors approved a staff recommendation to create a community vibrancy fund in light of several alternative energy companies having approached county officials recently about locating a project within Norfolk.

Through agreements with renewable energy companies locating in Norfolk, money from the fund would be used to pay for community projects of broad appeal.

“This approach is consistent with best practices in Ontario municipalities and represents a new revenue source for the county,” said Stephanie Potter, manager of corporate initiatives.

Agreements would be for a term spanning 20 to 25 years. Projects could include things like wind turbine operations, solar farms, battery storage facilities and transmission infrastructure.

Money raised is put into the fund and a fund policy dictates how the money is spent. The fund would support projects with broad community benefit and ideally support long term benefits. 

Coun. Chris Van Paassen had some concerns about the fund scaring away potential businesses.

“If it’s good for the community to have these kinds of industries because we are underserviced, charging them more is not going to make them come and develop something,” he said.

“By being one of the municipalities without these fees, we’re much more likely to induce these companies to come and invest in Norfolk County.”

Van Paassen was additionally worried the extra costs to the businesses would just end up being passed along to customers, raising the cost of living.

“I don’t see it as a direct cost impact to the end user other than what hydro would charge,” replied Director of Economic Development John Regan. 

And since the companies require a letter of support from the host municipality, Mayor Amy Martin said they have a bit of leverage to ask for something.

“In my experience to date… they’re very happy to contribute to something,” she said.