A new $237 million transmission line between Chatham and Lakeshore has been completed ahead of schedule.
The Ontario government and Hydro One announced the completion of the 49-kilometre 230-kilovolt line from the Chatham Switching Station to the new Lakeshore Transformer Station on Monday, a full year earlier than anticipated. The early completion enabled Hydro One to reduce the cost of the project by around $30 million.
“This type of project is what enables economic growth,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Electrification. “Only a decade ago, many of our small communities, rural communities had declining populations and today they’re faced with the challenges of meeting the services of an increasing population.”
The transmission line will generate 400 megawatts of clean and affordable electricity and is expected to increase the reliability and resiliency of the region’s entire electricity network.
“Because of the good work of the local councils and the province working together to attract and retain investment, we have energy demands that are two, three, four times exceeding the provincial [demands], which just speaks to the desire from the world and the country to invest in this region,” said Lecce.
According to Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator, electricity demand in the region is expected to more than double over the next 20 years.
