Planning Policies & Guidelines
Interim Municipal Support Resolution Protocol
Contact Us
For any questions or additional information contact
Scott Turnbull
Planner II, Planning and Economic Development
Email [email protected]
The City of Hamilton’s Interim Municipal Support Resolution Protocol establishes a formal process to receive and evaluate Municipal Support Resolution requests related to the Independent Electricity System Operator’s (IESO) procurement of energy storage projects.
Municipal Support Resolutions
As part of the IESO procurement process, proponents must demonstrate municipal support for their bid by obtaining a Municipal Support Resolution from the local municipality.
A Municipal Support Resolution is made by or on behalf of a municipality to demonstrate support solely for the narrow purposes of the provincial procurement. Its sole purpose is to satisfy the requirements of the Long-Term 2 Capacity Request for Proposals (LT2(c-1) RFP). It does not exempt energy storage projects from applicable environmental or land-use approvals, such as official plan amendments, zoning by-law amendments, or site plan approvals. If a project receives a Municipal Support Resolution but does not meet Provincial or Municipal laws and regulations, the project would not be permitted to move forward.
At the July 29, 2025, Planning Committee meeting, draft official plan amendments were presented that would, among other matters, require all energy storage projects within the City of Hamilton to undergo a site-specific zoning by-law amendment to establish suitable locations and site-specific performance standards for each property and facility.
A future public meeting will be scheduled to consider the draft amendments.
Conditional Blanket Municipal Support Resolution
On August 6, 2025, Council adopted an amending motion to use a Conditional Blanket Municipal Support Resolution for energy storage proposals participating in the first submission window of the procurement (LT2(c-1) RFP), to address the December 18, 2025, deadline. The full Municipal Support Resolution Protocol will apply to subsequent submission windows. Additional information available in the Memo to Council.
As approved by Council, the Blanket Municipal Support Resolution will apply to projects that:
- Are located on lands designated Industrial Land or Business Park, or which are located within the Airport Employment Growth District Secondary Plan, as identified in Schedule E-1 of the Urban Hamilton Official Plan; or,
- Are located in the Rural Area on lands designated Rural and are limited in size to 2% of the lot area, and a maximum of 1 hectare; or are located on lands designated Mineral Aggregate Resources Extraction Area; and,
- Are located outside of Core Areas, as identified in Schedule B of Urban and Rural Hamilton Official Plan; and,
- Are set back a minimum of 150 metres from sensitive land uses, as defined in the Official Plan; and,
- Have completed the Engagement Requirements specified in the Interim Municipal Support Resolution Protocol and Blanket Municipal Support Confirmation Letter Request Form; and,
- Have entered into a Community Benefit Agreement with the City of Hamilton informed by priorities established through community consultation; and,
- Have submitted a complete Blanket Municipal Support Confirmation Letter Request Form.
Complete the Blanket Municipal Support Confirmation Letter Request Form
Please note: Receiving a Municipal Support Confirmation Letter does not indicate support of any future planning applications.
- Project proponent completes the Municipal Support Confirmation Letter Request Form and includes all required supporting materials demonstrating that the project meets the conditions of the Blanket Municipal Support Resolution.
- City Staff review the submission for compliance with Blanket Municipal Support Resolution conditions and may contact the applicant if clarification or additional information is needed.
- If all conditions are satisfied, City staff will issue a Municipal Support Confirmation Letter.
Date modified