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The Northwest Connection
Green Energy and Green Economy Act.
The Act is aimed at creating a cleaner, greener Ontario by providing the infrastructure to connect renewable generation to the transmission system.
Hydro One is pleased to announce that it has initiated the first of these projects - the Northwest Transmission Expansion Project (the "Project") - a new single circuit 230,000 volt (230 kV) transmission line in northwestern Ontario. The proposed line would travel approximately 430 kilometres from the Nipigon area to the Pickle Lake area on a new 40-metre wide transmission corridor. New stations would also be required in the Nipigon and Pickle Lake areas for electrical transformation and switching.
This Project is contingent upon receiving a number of approvals, including Leave-to-Construct (Section 92) approval from the Ontario Energy Board and Environmental Assessment approval before construction can begin.
Hydro One is committed to working with First Nations, Métis, residents, businesses and the communities we serve in an open, fair and transparent manner, providing consultation opportunities throughout the process.
Benefits of Expanding the Northwestern Transmission System
- Reliability – The existing 115 kV transmission line between Ear Falls and Pickle Lake (E1C) is aging and has a poor performance record. The new line would provide an alternate source of supply resulting in improved reliability.
- Capacity – Electricity growth is expected to increase beyond the capacity of E1C, and the new line would provide the opportunity for existing customers to grow and for future customers to be connected to the provincial electricity system.
- Renewables – The northwest has renewable generation potential including approximately 100 MW at OPG’s proposed Little Jackfish Hydroelectric Development as well as up to 280 MW of wind potential on the eastern side of Lake Nipigon. This line would provide the transmission capacity to develop this renewable generation.
- Remote Communities – The proposed line offers the opportunity for First Nations and other communities to connect to the grid in the future, reducing their dependency on diesel generation.
- Grid Reinforcement – Building the line would lay the groundwork for a future 230 kV connection between Dryden Transformer Station and the new station in the Pickle Lake area, creating a 230 kV ring and strengthening the grid’s capacity in the northwest.
- Economic Development – The project has the potential to create direct and indirect construction jobs, green jobs and related economic benefits for northwestern Ontario communities and businesses.
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