Renewable Energy Approval (REA) Amendment #1

Notice of Proposed Project Technical Changes to the Petawawa Net Zero Project

June 25, 2025

Project: Petawawa Net Zero Project
Location: 560 Abbie Lane
MECP Reference No.: 5211-CM3MB6
IESO Reference No.: N/A

The Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) has directed the Town of Petawawa to prepare a notice of the project changes in accordance with paragraph 5 of subsection 15 (6) of Ontario Regulation 359/09, which includes providing notice to individuals, Indigenous communities and municipalities.

Project Description

The Town of Petawawa (Town), in collaboration with, Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) and Anaergia (Anaergia), received an approval for the Renewable Energy Approval (REA) application that had been submitted for the REA project at the Town of Petawawa’s Water Pollution Control Plant. The approved REA (REA#5211-CM3MB6 dated April 25, 2023) from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) provided the approval for the construction, installation, use, operation, maintenance and retiring of a Class 3 Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facility with an overall project nameplate capacity of 200 kWe. The REA approval provided by the MECP required that prior to the receipt of Organic Waste at the facility, the Town must submit a secondary containment plan, a stormwater management pland and a ground water monitoring plan to the satisfaction of the Director.

The REA project (Project) is located at the Town of Petawawa’s Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) and will transform the WPCP into a resource recovery facility by upgrading the two of four digesters to co-digest wastewater sludge and liquid external organics by diverting waste from landfill and boost biogas production for use as electricity, making the plant energy neutral or positive, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The project will involve the generation and utilization of biogas on site using a combined heat and power (CHP) unit.

All project information including the initial Renewable Energy Approval (REA) supporting documents and notices are posted on the Town’s website: https://www.petawawa.ca/residents/public-works/petawawa-net-zero-project/

The Petawawa WPCP is located at 560 Abbie Lane, Petawawa, County of Renfrew, K8H 2E6. The Site has an area of 75.3 acres and is registered as Range Lake Pt Lot 17, RP49R6385 Parts 1 to 5, Petawawa, County of Renfrew; roll number 4779079020069000000.

Proposed Project Changes

The proposed project technical changes are in support of adhering to Spill Containment Condition I23 of the Project’s REA issued on April 25, 2023. These technical changes include:

• Design and implementation of a secondary containment plan for the Anaerobic Digesters (AD#3 and AD#4) and the two Digestate Storage Tanks,
• Development of a stormwater management plan that addresses stormwater quality and quantity controls at the WPCP, and
• Development of the Groundwater Monitoring plan that will identify any leaks in the partially below-ground Anaerobic Digesters.

It is important to note that the overall project design and nameplate capacity will not change and no physical modifications to equipment installed will be required. As per the Technical Guide to Renewable Energy Approvals, Chapter 10 Making changes to Renewable Energy Approval (REA) Projects, the technical changes proposed will result in improvements to the environment and will not result in increased negative environmental effects.

Documents for Review

Refer to the "Downloads" section below for all of the draft documents that have been prepared or modified to support the proposed project technical changes. 

Printed copies of the documents below are available by request to the noted project contact.

Comments

The MECP has prescribed a notice period of thirty (30) days for the review and submission of written comments relating to the proposed project technical changes. The Town invites members of the community, Indigenous communities and municipalities to submit written comments on or before July 25, 2025.

Information collected will be used in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.56, as amended. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.

Written comments may be submitted as follows:

Attention to: Trevor Woodtke, Asset/Energy Management Coordinator

Subject: Petawawa Net Zero Project Proposed Project Changes

By Email: planning@petawawa.ca

In Person / Mail: Town of Petawawa, 1111 Victoria Street, Petawawa, ON K8H 2E6

Project Contacts

Should you have any questions regarding this notice or to learn more about the proposed project technical changes, please contact:

Trevor Woodtke
Asset/Energy Management Coordinator
Phone: 613-687-5536 ext. 2026
Email: planning@petawawa.ca