What is the need for the project?
In Ontario, the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) is responsible for ensuring
that future energy needs are being met. According to the IESO, agricultural electricity
demand in the Windsor-Essex and Chatham areas is expected to quadruple by 2035.
To support this growth in southwest Ontario, the IESO requested Hydro One begin development
work in March 2021 to build a new transmission line between our Lambton Transformer Station
in and Chatham Switching Station.
How did you identify the alternative routes?
As a part of the Class Environmental Assessment our team conducted preliminary work to
identify 5 viable route alternatives for the new transmission line, which consider existing
baseline information about the environment, such as waterbodies, residential areas,
environmentally significant areas and we looked for opportunities to parallel linear
infrastructure and utilize existing corridors where such opportunities were available.
Why was Route 2 selected as the preferred route?
Since February 2022, we’ve sought feedback and completed studies to identify and evaluate
five route alternatives to select a preferred route. Input from Indigenous communities and
residents, agencies and the public has been crucial, as well as environmental, technical,
and other considerations, in determining the preferred route for the new line.
We used this data to evaluate the route alternatives and select a preferred route that
balances the natural and socio-economic environments, technical and cost considerations, and
Indigenous culture, values and land use. We continue to welcome any feedback on the
preferred route to help ensure the final route is considerate of community interests.
How is feedback used as part of the Class Environmental Assessment process?
Your feedback is an important part of the planning process for the project. Our team has been
collecting input through meetings, email, phone, workshops, community open houses and
surveys/comment forms to help us build a line that is considerate of the interests and needs
of the community.
To date, your local knowledge about the environment, including the natural and socio-economic
environment, has helped us to better assess the route alternatives to select a preferred
route that minimizes adverse effects to the environment. As the project progresses, your
input about the preferred route can help us identify potential environmental effects and
ways to avoid, mitigate or restore Project effects.
Please provide your feedback at any time by contacting Hydro One Community Relations at Community.Relations@HydroOne.com or
1-877-345-6799.
What happens now that a preferred route is selected?
With the selection of a preferred route, the next steps include completing an assessment to
identify potential effects of the new transmission line and identifying measures to avoid or
mitigate adverse effects, progressing with the detailed design of the transmission line
(including tower designs and placements) and construction planning, working with directly
impacted property owners, and compiling a draft Environmental Study Report for public review
and comment.
We’ll continue seeking feedback as we work towards a final route that is considerate of
community interests. In designing the line, flexibility may be considered on a
property-by-property basis to best mitigate effects to properties traversed by the line
where practicable and feasible. For example, this could include slight deviations within the
right-of-way, bringing towers closer to road, considering larger spanning or spacing
distances.
How big are the towers going to be?
With the selection of a preferred route, we can begin the detailed engineering design, which
will influence the size, location and number of towers required, as well as the right-of-way
width.
That said, Hydro One has been powering southwestern Ontario for over 100 years and we know
the typical right-of-way required for a 230-kilovolt transmission line is approximately 46
metres in width. We also anticipate the typical tower footprint will range from 6 metres x 6
metres to 12 metres x 12 metres, depending on the tower design. The typical tower height is
influenced by environmental conditions like topography, and we anticipate will range between
30 metres and 60 metres.
How are effects to agricultural operations being considered?
As we continue our environmental and construction planning for this project, we will look
for opportunities to avoid, protect and prevent damage to environmental features and
properties, such as soil compaction and interference with tile drainage, to the extent
practical and, ensure that work areas are restored following the completion of construction.
It is our goal to build a line that is considerate of the interests and needs of the
community. Feedback gathered through ongoing consultation with farmers and other community
members will be considered in the selection of tower design, construction methodologies,
operations and maintenance procedures.
