What is the need for this new transmission line?
The need for electricity is expected to increase significantly across Cambridge, Kitchener, Brant and Brantford over the next 20 years. More people and businesses are using electricity every day.
Once complete, the new transmission line will deliver approximately 600 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the region - enough to power a region the size of Kitchener-Waterloo. With additional system upgrades, the new transformer station will enable further electricity supply to the greater Waterloo Region and Wellington County area for decades to come.
Who will benefit from this project?
Everyone who relies on electricity in the region, from Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo to Brantford, Brant County and Wellington County, will benefit from this project.
It's about making sure the power is there when people need it, whether that's for homes, hospitals, schools, businesses or community services. As the region grows, with more homes being built and more businesses expanding, the electricity system needs to grow too.
This project will strengthen reliability, support jobs and economic growth, and deliver enough electricity to power a region the size of Kitchener-Waterloo for decades to come.
How is feedback used as part of the Class Environmental Assessment process?
Your feedback is important to the successful development of this new transmission line. The local knowledge we receive helps us select a route that minimizes effects on the environment and community. Our team will continue to have meetings, workshops, and community open houses to help us gather information that considers the interests and needs of the communities.
Local knowledge about the environment, including the natural and socio-economic environment, was used to help inform the selection of alternative routes and will continue to be used during the evaluation to select a preferred route. Input from community members, Indigenous communities, elected officials, property owners, and other stakeholders help us throughout the evaluation process and identifying potential ways to avoid, mitigate or restore potential environmental effects from the project.
Please provide feedback at anytime by contacting Hydro One Community Relations at: Community.Relations@HydroOne.com or 1-877-345-6799
How is the preferred route selected?
Over the course of the Class EA, route alternatives are studied by collecting data from a variety of sources, including existing reports and plans, conducting environmental field surveys and technical assessments, as well as engagement opportunities to gather input and feedback.
A weighted multi-criteria decision-making analysis is used to evaluate route alternatives to select a preferred route. The analysis balances project-specific criteria in four equally weighted categories: natural environment, socio-economic environment, Indigenous culture, values and land use, and technical and cost.
I received a letter indicating my property will be affected. How can I get more information?
At this stage of the project, our focus is on gathering information and feedback about the proposed routes. Hydro One will be in touch with all property owners along the alternative routes to share information about the proposed routes. No decisions about individual properties have been made.
Please contact us at Community.Relations@HydroOne.com or 1-877-345-6799 to ask questions or share your feedback.
Are there safety concerns with electric magnetic fields?
Hydro One takes safety very seriously and we design and operate our equipment in accordance with all regulatory requirements. Health Canada has found no conclusive evidence of adverse effects caused by electric magnetic field (EMF) exposure from transmission lines. It also does not consider that any precautionary measures are needed regarding daily exposures to EMFs at extremely low frequencies.
How are the needs of agricultural operations considered in the planning of transmission infrastructure?
While farming and agricultural operations are considered a compatible use within Hydro One transmission line rights-of-ways, minimizing impacts to agricultural operations is a primary concern for the project team at Hydro One. As we continue our environmental and construction planning for this project, we will look for opportunities to avoid, protect and mitigate any potential damage to environmental features, including concerns related to soil compaction and drainage, to every extent possible and, where necessary, make appropriate repairs.
