Municipal Oversight Brief: BESS Risks & Local Authority

Published: November 12, 2025
Prepared by: KICLEI Canada / Maggie Hope Braun
Overview:
This 10-page briefing is designed to help Canadian municipalities assess and respond to Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) proposals being promoted by private developers. While framed as part of the “clean energy transition,” these projects are speculative, profit-driven ventures that come with long-term safety, environmental, and financial risks for host communities.

The report explains how the business model works, what municipalities are being asked to approve, and the risks that are often overlooked or minimized in developer presentations. It includes a checklist of council questions, a sample motion to pause or decline participation, and recommendations to ensure full transparency and local control.