A safe and reliable power supply is essential to ensure southwestern Ontario can continue to grow now and into the future. That’s why Hydro One is proposing to construct a new double-circuit 230 kilovolt transmission line from our Chatham Switching Station located in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent to the future
Lakeshore Switching Station, which will be located in the Municipality of Lakeshore. This new transmission line will help accommodate future electricity growth, improve reliability for homes and businesses and support local industries in the region at a time when it is needed most.
The proposed project will require the completion of a Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA), as well as Ontario Energy Board (OEB) approval (Leave-to-Construct application under Section 92 of the
OEB Act).
Class Environmental Assessment
The Chatham to Lakeshore Line is subject to the
Class Environmental Assessment for Minor Transmission Facilities (Hydro One, 2016) , in accordance with the
Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. The Class EA is a streamlined planning process ensuring that applicable projects are planned and carried out in a manner that is efficient and environmentally acceptable.
Over the past year, Hydro One has been conducting a Class EA to build the new Chatham to Lakeshore Line. Through the Class EA process, we have assessed three route alternatives and associated variations by collecting environmental and technical information, as well as input from agencies, First Nations and Haudenosaunee communities, community members, elected officials, interest groups and businesses. Based on this information gathered and feedback received, Route Alternative 2A has been selected as the preferred route for the new transmission line, as shown on the maps below.
Consultation with the public, First Nations and Haudenosaunee communities, elected officials, municipal representatives, government agencies, and interest groups is an important part of the Class EA process.
Details of the review process will continue to be communicated through various channels, including
consultation events , local newspapers, this project website, and via notifications to project stakeholders. As part of the consultation process, a draft Environmental Study Report (ESR) will be made available for a review period.
Click below to view an interactive map.
Interactive Map