A brand new electrical energy transmission line stretching between Chatham-Kent and Lakeshore, Ont., is full, greater than a 12 months forward of schedule, the Ontario authorities introduced Monday.
The 49-kilometre, 230-kilovolt line from the Chatham switching station to the brand new transformer station within the Municipality of Lakeshore will enhance the reliability and resiliency of the grid and convey 400 megawatts of electrical energy to the Windsor-Essex area, based on a information launch from the Ford authorities.
Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff thanked the province at a Monday information convention for the foresight to do the venture.
“You are taking a look at the way forward for Chatham-Kent and the entire area right here,” he stated.
“If we did not have this, we might have a ‘closed for enterprise’ join.”
The federal government’s focus is on ensuring companies resembling the brand new Stellantis-LG Power Options NextStar battery plant and the rising greenhouse trade have entry to dependable and reasonably priced vitality and stay aggressive within the face of potential U.S. tariffs, stated Stephen Lecce, minister of vitality and electrification, in a information launch.
“Once we’re finishing a venture on time, it allows us to construct public confidence to draw extra funding,” he informed reporters at a Monday information convention to announce the completion of the venture.
Electrical energy demand within the Windsor-Essex area is predicted to greater than double over the subsequent 20 years, the federal government stated, pushed largely by agricultural and industrial development.
It started establishing the brand new line, valued at roughly $237 million, within the spring of 2023. By ending development early, the venture saved about $30 million {dollars}, the province stated.
“This line is the primary of 5 new transmission traces in southwest Ontario that may help development and safety in our native provide chains and proceed to make Ontario a pretty place to dwell and make investments,” stated David Lebeter, president and chief govt officer of Hydro One, within the province’s information launch.
Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Trevor Jones stated the venture would create tons of of well-paying jobs and supply a dependable basis for clear vitality growth, whereas Essex MPP Anthony Leardi stated the transmission line will bolster the greenhouse sector and assist gasoline financial development.
The road is a component of a bigger effort by Ontario to fulfill a quickly rising want for vitality, the province stated.
That effort contains creating an built-in vitality plan, advancing nuclear energy, constructing new transmission infrastructure, launching vitality effectivity packages to maintain prices down, and growing aggressive procurements.
