The largest hydro company in Ontario is helping spur economic growth in Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent.
Hydro One announced Thursday that it plans to develop and build a new transmission line from Chatham to Leamington. The 230-kilovolt line is planned per the request of the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), the Crown corporation responsible for oversight of Ontario's hydro industry. Hydro One said the development will help support and expand the thriving agricultural business in both regions.
"We have been listening to our customers and working with our industry partners to support the thriving greenhouse industry and Leamington's growing economy," said Hydro One president and CEO Mark Poweska. "This substantial investment to increase the availability of power will allow for more than 40 medium-sized greenhouses to start-up and grow."
The new transmission line is expected to bring 400 megawatts of hydro to the area once it is ready by the end of 2025. Those in agri-business, such as Peter Quiring, owner and CEO of Leamington's NatureFresh Farms, have said the industry can't grow in the area without that kind of support.
"This investment will help to support a fast-growing industry that is contributing $1.5 billion and 10,000 jobs to the Ontario economy," said Quiring. "Electricity infrastructure must keep up with this industry's historic rate of growth, this project will help to keep businesses and jobs in southwestern Ontario and facilitate the construction of approximately 800 acres of new greenhouses with grow lights for year-round growing."
Once the transmission line is ready, Hydro One will be able to supply an additional 1,000 megawatts of power to the region, enough to light up a city the size of Ottawa, according to the utility company. Hydro One already has in place an investment designed to add 600 megawatts to the Leamington area. $193-million has already been approved to build three transmission stations. The first was recently completed, the second is under construction, and the third is in the planning stages.