Issue Summary: waste_to_energy

• 2024-04-29 — Zoning By-law Amendment - Waste to Energy Project (Chatham) (vote; carried (16-0); mover: Allin)
• 2026-04-27 — Closed session (motion; unknown; mover: —) — Needs human review
• 2026-04-27 — Waste to Energy Project approval (vote; carried (14-4); mover: Councillor C. McGregor)
• 2026-04-27 — Waste to Energy Project postponement (vote; defeated (4-14); mover: Councillor Storey)
• 2026-05-11 — Environmental Registry notices for Waste to Energy Project (question; unknown; mover: Councillor Jubenville)
• 2026-05-25 — Waste to Energy Project size (question; unknown; mover: —) — Needs human review

2024-04-29 — Zoning By-law Amendment - Waste to Energy Project (Chatham)

The Public Meeting requirement under Section 34(12) of the Planning Act for Zoning By-law Amendment File D-14 C/14/24/G, to rezone the lands known as 175 Bloomfield Road and a portion of the lands known as 100 Irwin Street, in Part of Lot 19, Concession 1 (Raleigh), in the Community of Chatham (City), to a site-specific General Industrial Zone, to permit a Waste Processing Facility (Waste to Energy Project), be deemed complete.

Source: Combined Council Meeting - April 29 2024 (Minutes) — Item 11(f)

2026-04-27 — Closed session — Needs human review

That Council moved into a Closed Session Meeting of Council pursuant to Section 239 of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended, for the following reasons:
Advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege, a position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations carried on by the municipality and a trade secret or scientific, technical, commercial, financial or labour relations information, supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board, which, if disclosed, could reasonably be expected to prejudice significantly the competitive position or interfere significantly with the contractual or other negotiations of a person, group of persons, or organization with regard to Waste to Energy Project. Section 239(2)(f), (i) & (k), Municipal Act, 2001.

Source: Combined Council Meeting - April 27 2026 (Minutes) — Item 4

2026-04-27 — Waste to Energy Project approval

MovedCouncillor C. McGregorSecondedCouncillor B. McGregor"That
Chatham-Kent Council approve the construction and operation of an anaerobic digestor operation at 175 Bloomfield Road, Chatham, Ontario, jointly with the Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission and Greenfield Global Inc., and Council commits to the following:
Funding the Equity Investment of up to $16 million out of the existing Investment Portfolio;
Borrowing $25 million from Infrastructure Ontario and lending the funds to the new Municipal Services Corporation to further lend to the project company;
Authorize and direct the Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to transfer approximately 2.71 acres of land at the west portion of the 100 Irwin Street, Chatham property valued at $650,000 as part of the equity investment to the project company as approximately depicted in Figure 1 of this Report;
Authorize the General Manager, PUC and the Chief Financial Officer to approve engineering work to proceed in designing the pump station and piping that will transfer waste sludge from the Irwin Street Wastewater Plant over to the anaerobic digestor site to determine cost estimates.
All subject to satisfaction of the conditions in Appendix A to this Report including satisfactory legal terms, as determined by the Chief Financial Officer, General Manager, PUC and Chief Legal Officer, acting jointly, and returning to Council only with any material issue arising in respect of definitive agreement terms or related issues concerning the project that depart materially from the agreed upon pro forma financials.
Council receive the Deloitte summary report titled Due Diligence of Prospective Anaerobic Digestion Facility attached as Appendix B.
Zoning By-law Amendment File D-14 C/14/24/G to rezone the lands known as 175 Bloomfield Road and a portion of the lands known as 100 Irwin Street, in Part of Lot 19, Concession 1 (Raleigh), in the Community of Chatham (City), to a site-specific General Industrial Zone, to permit a Waste Processing Facility (Waste to Energy Project), be approved, and the implementing by-law be adopted.
Council fund a further advance investment of up to $600,000 or 40% of the cost to further engineering designs and to satisfy the conditions in recommendation #1.
Council approve a by-law to authorize the submission of an application to Ontario Infrastructure and Lands Corporation (OILC) for financing certain capital works and to authorize temporary and long term borrowing through the issuance of a $25 million debenture amortized over 15 years."
Yes (14)Mayor Canniff, Councillor Ceccacci, Councillor Crew, Councillor Hall, Councillor Harrigan, Councillor McGrail, Councillor B. McGregor, Councillor C. McGregor, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Wright, Councillor Allin, Councillor Anderson, Councillor Doyle, and Councillor McDonaldNo (4)Councillor Bondy, Councillor Finn, Councillor Jubenville, and Councillor StoreyMotion Carried (14 to 4)

Source: Combined Council Meeting - April 27 2026 (Minutes) — Item 16(a), second motion

2026-04-27 — Waste to Energy Project postponement

MovedCouncillor StoreySecondedCouncillor Finn“That in the interests of transparency on how taxpayers dollars are being spent, be it resolved that this motion be postponed until in-person public consultations have been held on this item. This public consultation would include:
appropriate representatives from Deloitte, Greenfield Global and members of administration
standard public consultation/public information centre) format
promotion of this event in all Wards and Bkejwanong Walpole Island
holding a special Council meeting at the earliest possible date to allow for enough time for the public to review the proposal."
Yes (4)Councillor Bondy, Councillor Finn, Councillor Jubenville, and Councillor StoreyNo (14)Mayor Canniff, Councillor Ceccacci, Councillor Crew, Councillor Hall, Councillor Harrigan, Councillor McGrail, Councillor B. McGregor, Councillor C. McGregor, Councillor Thompson, Councillor Wright, Councillor Allin, Councillor Anderson, Councillor Doyle, and Councillor McDonaldDefeated (4 to 14)

Source: Combined Council Meeting - April 27 2026 (Minutes) — Item 16(a), first motion

2026-05-11 — Environmental Registry notices for Waste to Energy Project

Councillor Jubenville noted that there is presently an ERO on the Ministry of Environment website under the name of Greenfield Global Inc. and Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission. She questioned why Council and the public wasn't notified. The Chief Financial Officer explained that these EROs are part of the process for the Waste to Energy Project. There is a change in the environmental footprint at the PUC and a change to the waste disposal process at Greenfield Global. The new site where the Waste to Energy Project will be located also required an an ERO. These approvals have been ongoing in the background through the process as foundational work and to keep the project moving. If Council did not support the project, these regulatory approvals would have been cancelled.

Source: Council Meeting - May 11 2026 (Minutes) — Item 26

2026-05-25 — Waste to Energy Project size — Needs human review

Council requested clarification on the change in size of the Waste to Energy Project that is listed on the Province's ERO website. The General Manager of the Public Utilities Commission explained that his is waiting for a response from RWDI who is responsible for the permitting work for this project. That response will be communicated to Council once received.

Source: Combined Council Meeting - May 25 2026 (Minutes) — Item 24