Exciting new energy technology, the first of its kind in Canada, officially opened in Harriston today.

The facility is all privately funded without any public money. The multi-million dollar facility will create a couple of fulltime jobs locally, as well as a dozen more elsewhere in the province.

NRStor Inc. of Toronto uses massive underground steel flywheels housed in a vacuum to store and release energy to the grid as needed. It levels out the peaks and valleys in the power grid on a minute by minute basis.

Annette Verschuren, CEO of NRStor Inc of Toronto says the company looked all over the province and discovered Harriston was an ideal location. She adds land was relatively cheap, there was access to the power grid and there is fibre optic internet.

Verschuren says Minto municipal officials and council have been “absolutely terrific”. She declined to say the cost of the project.

Energy Minister Bob Chiarelli was in Harriston for the official opening. He praised NRStor Inc. for having “the courage” to build the multi-million dollar facility, which helps improve the supply of clean energy in Ontario.

Chiarelli says projects such as this one in Harriston help maintain Ontario’s position as a leader in North America in innovative technology.

And Minto Mayor George Bridge says this facility will help put Minto on the map. He adds the innovative nature of the company is in keeping with the image Minto is trying to project.

A look inside the new energy company in Harriston. Concrete silos where the flywheels are held underground. (Photo by Campbell Cork)

Minto Mayor George Bridge at the official opening of a new energy company in Harriston. July 22, 2014. (Photo by Campbell Cork)