Hydro One has chosen a preferred route for a 230-kilovolt transmission line linking its Mississagi transformer station near Wharncliffe (north of Thessalon and Iron Bridge) to its Third Line transformer station in Sault Ste. Marie.
Hydro One, which operates 98 per cent of Ontario's high-voltage transmission grid, sent a flyer last week to local stakeholders indicating it wants to build its twin-circuit new line on Route 3B, which was unanimously rejected by city councillors last September.
Council said it exclusively supported connecting to the Third Line transformer station using Route 3C, which didn't slice through Hiawatha and Wishart, two of the city's most beloved natural areas.
But Hydro is now advocating a modified Route 3B.
Its flyer calls for "a modification at the southern end of 3B to align with the existing Hydro One corridor into Third Line transfer station," which it described as "the most advantageous and therefore ... the preferred route."
Both the initial proposed routes and the one currently promoted by Hydro One can be viewed in the image gallery above.
For a more detailed interactive map, click here.
The utility says it reviewed alternative routes based on four evaluation categories:
- Indigenous community values
- natural environment
- socio-economic environment
- technical considerations
"The proposed North Shore Link project follows Hydro One's industry-leading 50-50 equity partnership model with First Nations on new large-scale transmission line projects," the flyer states.
"The project involves work at the stations to connect the loop ki new transmission line, including an expansion at Mississagi TS. In addition, to support the overall operation of the transmission system, an expansion at Algoma TS, located east of Algoma Mills, will be required to accommodate additional station equipment."
Hydro One is planning the following community open houses to further discuss its transmission line, which will require approval from the Ontario Energy Board:
- Sault Ste. Marie: July 22, 2 to 7 р.m., Water Tower Inn, 360 Great Northern Rd.
- Searchmont: July 23, 4 to 7 p.m., Searchmont Community Centre, 734 Highway 532
- Wharncliffe: July 24, 4 - 7 p.m., 4847 ON-129, Wharncliffe Community Centre
Completion of the new line is expected in 2029.