Hydro One picks preferred route for planned power line
With local municipalities hungering for new power to accommodate residential and greenhouse industrial growth, Hydro One has selected the preferred route for its planned Chatham-to-lakeshore transmission line project.
Several Essex County municipalities in recent years have been pushing for the new high-power electrical line to be constructed due to escalating hydro demand related to the agri-food greenhouse sector and demand for new housing.
The Chatham-to-lakeshore transmission line is expected to increase the amount of available power to the region by 400 megawatts — the equivalent of energizing a community the size of Windsor.
Pending successful completion and no delays of the ongoing environmental assessment, construction on the new hydro line is scheduled to start in 2024 and be completed by the end of 2025. Once completed, the new line will tie into a new switching station in Lakeshore.
There had been three route options for the new power line, but based on feedback last year during the initial stages of the environmental assessment, a preferred option has now been selected, Daniel Levitan, vice-president of stakeholder relations at Hydro One, said Thursday.
Consultation leading to the decision included input received from First Nations and Haudenosaunee communities, government agencies, elected officials, residents and businesses, Levitan said.
“This is an important step in the environmental assessment process,” Levitan said. “We started out with three routes and now a single route has been chosen for further study and concentration under the environmental assessment.
“Once this line is energized in 2025, that power will enable significant growth for the greenhouse operators and the community. This infrastructure is critical for that growth. This will ensure the power is there when it will be needed.”
He described the preferred route option as a path that has the “least resistance” to the area's Indigenous and farming communities.
No firm date has been selected for getting a shovel in the ground or any final cost projections — both pending successful completion of the environmental assessment, Levitan said.
Hydro One has rolled out a virtual open house online for anyone interested in learning more about the preferred transmission line route and providing feedback.
Residents will also be able to view online a live virtual presentation on March 11 from 7 to 8 p.m.
More information can be found at www.hydroone.com/chatham-to-lakeshore.
Lakeshore Mayor Tom Bain said he has already spoken to folks at Hydro One and expressed concern regarding how the preferred route might be too close to about 500 residents around the area of Comber.
“That was one of my main concerns,” he said. “If you can run this through rural or farmlands rather than too close to town you would be much better off.
“I'm sure they are going to hear from some people during the open house. In general, people are concerned these high-powered lines might affect their TVS or computers. People have concern about wind, noise or unsightliness of the lines unless they are buried.”
Bain added, however, that he was “very aware” of the need of every county municipality to have the new hydro transmission line up and running.
“It's extremely important not only for the greenhouse industry, but just as much for any local industry you want to bring in,” he said.
“But I'm certainly glad there will be open houses to take into consideration what people point out to them. They have been very receptive in the past to everything and keeping us informed.
“I'm hoping to see that continue as residents make them aware about coming too close to town.”