Hydro One has started construction of the Chatham to Lakeshore Transmission Line, aiming to deliver clean electricity to support the growth of the agri-food and manufacturing sectors.
To commemorate the commencement of the $268 million investment, Hydro One President and CEO, David Lebeter, Minister of Energy, Todd Smith, First Nation leaders, and local agricultural and municipal leaders gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony.
“We’re getting shovels in the ground to build the new Chatham to Lakeshore Transmission Line to support the incredible growth across the agri-food and battery manufacturing sectors in Windsor-Essex,” said Todd Smith, Minister of Energy. “This critical work is part of our commitment to build faster and smarter and help power up growth across the southwest, while securing access to clean, reliable and affordable electricity for decades to come.”
“The Chatham to Lakeshore line is an essential part of the plan for meeting the increasing electricity needs in the southwest,” said Lesley Gallinger, President and Chief Executive Officer, Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). “Along with energy efficiency programs and innovative projects to reduce peak demand, it will be instrumental in supporting the ongoing economic growth in the region.”
Voltage Power, a subsidiary of Aecon Group, has been assigned as the contractor responsible for completing the construction of the Chatham to Lakeshore Transmission Line. In line with Hydro One’s commitment to procure 5% of materials and services from Indigenous businesses by 2026, a significant portion of the 49 km line will be obtained from qualified Indigenous businesses, acting as subcontractors to Voltage. This initiative is expected to contribute around 400 MW of clean electricity to the region, an amount sufficient to power a city comparable in size to Windsor.
The transmission line is scheduled to be operational by the conclusion of 2025.
According to the IESO, energy demand in southwest Ontario is projected to quadruple by 2035. The Chatham to Lakeshore Transmission Line is part of an extensive network of infrastructure projects throughout southwest Ontario that aim to unlock the electrification potential of Ontario’s economy, thereby mitigating climate change and addressing the anticipated surge in demand.
As a step toward reconciliation, Hydro One has offered a 50% equity stake in the transmission line component of the project to five First Nations in the region, showing its commitment to collaborating and advancing the project together.
