What's New?
July 2010 — Hydro One files Final Environmental Study Report with the Ministry of the Environment
Hydro One has incorporated comments from the public and made appropriate revisions to the Draft Environmental Study Report (ESR). The Final ESR with Appendices has been filed with the Ministry of the Environment, and can be viewed in the approvals section.
On May 18, 2010, the Minister of the Environment informed Hydro One that it may proceed with the Supply to Essex County Transmission Reinforcement Project, subject to any other permits or approvals required. The Minister also communicated his decision that a higher level of assessment (an individual environmental assessment) for the project is not required. The Minister’s ruling was in response to submissions received from two individuals opposing any infrastructure changes to power facilities that could contribute to or service wind turbines in the County of Essex or anywhere within the Great Lakes basin.
February 2010 — Hydro One issues draft Environmental Study Report for Public Review and Comment
Hydro One has completed the draft Enviornmental Study Report for the Supply to Essex County Transmission Reinforcement Project. Based on studies conducted over the past two years and public and stakeholder consultation, Hydro One is proposing the staged construction of the following new facilities to reinforce the electricity transmission system in Essex County to ensure an adequate and reliable supply of power for the future:
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Stage 1: a new transformer station (TS) on Concession Road 6 in the Municipality of Leamington and a new double circuit 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line on a new corridor to connect the station to the existing 230 kV lines south of Highway 401 in The Town of Lakeshore; and
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Stage 2: an additional double circuit 230 kV transmission line on the existing transmission corridor between Sandwich Junction and Lauzon TS in the City of Windsor.
The proposed facilities are also shown on the map below. Hydro One will submit an application to the Ontario Energy Board later this year seeking approval to construct Stage 1 of the project with a projected in-service date of 2013.
How to Submit Your Input
In accordance with the Class Environmental Assessment for Minor Transmission Facilities, approved under the Environmental Assessment Act, Hydro One is making the draft Environmental Study Report (ESR) available for public review and comment for 30 days, from February 11, 2010 to March 12, 2010. The draft ESR is posted in sections below. It can and can also be viewed at several municipal offices and libraries in Essex County as noted in the advertisement published in local newspapers, The Windsor Star, and Le Rempart. (Read advertisement in French). A copy of the draft ESR on CD may also be requested by calling Hydro One Community Relations at 1-877-345-6799.
Written questions or comments on the Draft ESR must be received by Hydro One no later than 4:30 p.m. E.S.T. on Friday, March 12, 2010. Please address correspondence to:
Patricia Statie, Environmental Planner
Hydro One Networks Inc.
483 Bay Street, South Tower, 4th Floor
Toronto, ON M5G 2P5
Email: patricia.staite@HydroOne.com
Tel: 1-877-345-6799
Fax: 416-345-6919
If no concerns are expressed by March 12, 2010, Hydro One will finalize the Environmental Study Report and file it with the Ministry of the Environment. The project will be considered acceptable and may proceed, subject to Ontario Energy Board approvals, as outlined in the draft ESR.
The Enviornmental Assessment Act has provisions that allow interested parties to ask for a higher level of assessment for a Class Environmental Assessment project if they feel that outstanding issues have not been adequately addressed. A request for higher level of assessment, referred to as a Part II Order request, must be made in writing to the Minister of the Environment and received no later than 4:30 p.m. E.S.T. on March 12, 2010 at the following address:
Ministry of the Environment
135 St. Clair Avenue West, 12th Floor
Toronto, ON M4V 1P5
Please not that a duplicate copy of a Part II Order request must also be sent to Hydro One at the address noted above.
To download the Draft Environmental Assessment Report please visit the Approvals section.
December 2009 — Hydro One modifies proposed transmission line route alignment (Leamington/Lakeshore area)
Based on input received from local property owners at a workshop held on October 29, 2009 at the Comber Community Centre, Hydro One will modify the northern portion of the proposed transmission line route presented on July 16, 2009 at the Public Information Centre (PIC) #3 in Leamington. A 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line is required to connect the proposed Hydro One transformer station on Concession Road 6 in the Municipality of Leamington to the existing transmission lines located south of Highway 401.
At PIC #3, Hydro One was asked to consider alternative transmission line routes between Lakeshore Roads 243 and 245 that would follow existing property lines, if possible. Hydro One had previously investigated routing options in 2008 and determined that a mid-concession route was not feasible due to the proposed location of wind turbines for the Comber Wind Project. Hydro One agreed to re-examine the suggested routes and identified one technically-feasible alternative west of Lakeshore Road 245.
At the October 29 workshop, Hydro One reviewed the route alternatives with area property owners and sought their input on the evaluation criteria which should be considered most important when assessing the two alternative routes. For full details, read the Workshop Report and Appendices.
Hydro One is completing the Draft Environmental Study Report (ESR) for this project and it will be made available for public review and comment early in 2010.
July 2009 — Hydro One is nearing completion of the Class Environmental Assessment (EA) to reinforce the electricity transmission system in Essex County.
The following new facilities, shown on the map below, are being proposed to ensure an adequate and reliable supply of power for the future:
- a new transformer station in Leamington and a new double circuit 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line on a new corridor to connect the station to the existing 230 kV lines south of Hwy 401; and
- an additional 230 kV line on the existing transmission corridor between Sandwich Junction near Maidstone and Lauzon Transformer Station in Windsor.
The facilities would be built in stages, with the Leamington Transformer Station and connector line proceeding first.
Preferred Transmission Alternative Map
October 2008 — Hydro One has posted the detailed ortho tiles that were presented at public information centres in Tecumseh on July 23, 2008 and Leamington on July 24, 2008. Download the maps below (ZIP files containing PDF maps - high-speed Internet recommended):
Hydro One and its consultants are continuing to explore potential sites for a new transformer station in the Municipality of Leamington, and to study the alternative transmission line routes A and B that would connect the new station to the existing 230 kilovolt lines that supply Essex County.
Hydro One will hold a third round of public information centres (PICs) once a preferred station site and transmission line route have been identified, and will seek further public and stakeholder input at that time. It is anticipated that the next PICs will be held later this Fall.
July 2008 — Hydro One has completed the first and second round of public and stakeholder consultation and information gathering for its Class Environmental Assessment (EA) project and has identified a preferred transmission reinforcement plan for Essex County and Windsor. Transmission Alternative #2, as described below, has been selected as the preferred alternative based on an analysis of technical, environmental, social and cost factors, and public and stakeholder feedback.
Hydro One and the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) first introduced its preferred alternative and outlined the next steps in the Class EA process at the municipal council meetings on July 7 and July 8 in the Municipality of Leamington, Town of Kingsville, Town of Lakeshore, and Town of Tecumseh. See the presentations made by the OPA (PDF 567 KB) and Hydro One (PDF 409 KB).
Project Description
Hydro One has initiated a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) to reinforce the electricity transmission system that supplies Essex County and Windsor to ensure an adequate and reliable supply of electricity for the future. While this Class EA project focuses mainly on addressing identified needs in the eastern part of the County, investments in new and/or upgraded facilities in this area would benefit the county as a whole. The transmission options and facilities under consideration are described below in further detail.
Hydro One is seeking input on the following two alternative transmission options described below and shown on the map. Both alternatives are technically feasible, satisfy the identified electricity system needs, and can be constructed and put into service by the target date of Spring 2011.
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Alternative 1 (shown in blue on the map above)
- Construct a new 230 kilovolt (kV) to 115 kV transformer station and associated "tap" line in the Woodslee area in the Town of Lakeshore;
- Upgrade the capacity of the conductor (wires) on the existing 115 kV transmission line between the proposed station and Kingsville Transformer Station, and replace the wood pole structure on this existing right-of-way.
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Alternative 2(shown in red on the map above)
- Construct a new 230 kV to 27.6 kV transformer station north of Leamington;
- Construct a new 230 kV transmission line on a new right-of-way to connect the proposed station to Hydro One's existing 230 kV transmission line which runs east-west, south of Hwy 401;
- Construct a new 230 kV transmission line on the existing Hydro One-owned right-of-way between Sandwich Junction and Lauzon Transformer Station in the Town of Tecumseh.
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The Need for Transmission System Reinforcement
The Ontario Power Authority (OPA), established by the Government of Ontario in 2004, is responsible for ensuring a long-term supply of electricity for Ontario. As part of its mandate, the OPA recommends investments in new electricity supply resources including transmission facilities.
In the August 2007, the OPA submitted its first Integrated Power System Plan(IPSP) to the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), the regulator of Ontario's electricity and natural gas industries. In preparing the IPSP, the OPA analyzed future electricity needs in the Windsor-Essex area, and in consultation with local distribution companies and Hydro One, confirmed the need for new transmission system investments in this area. Given the confirmed near-term need for new facilities in Essex County, the OPA has indicated to the OEB that Hydro One's Supply to Essex County Class EA should be initiated at this time and precede the OEB's public review process for the IPSP.
To learn more about the OPA and its mandate, visit: www.powerauthority.on.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Carrie-Lynn Ognibene
Community Relations
Hydro One Networks Inc.
483 Bay Street, 8th Floor, South Tower
Toronto, ON M5G 2P5
Tel: 1-877-345-6799 or 416-345-6799
Fax: 416-345-6984
E-mail: Community.Relations@HydroOne.com