By Cathy Dobson, from www.theobserver.ca The Observer
A major upgrade to a 70-kilometre transmission line slicing through Lambton County bodes well for the local economy, community leaders say.
Hydro One plans to hold public consultations this month about adding capacity to the existing double-circuit 230-kilovolt transmission line stretching from the Lambton transformer station in St. Clair Township to the Longwood transformer station in Strathroy-Caradoc.
“This is very positive news,” said Steve Arnold, Lambton’s warden and mayor of St. Clair Township.
The more electricity local transmission lines can carry beyond Lambton County, the more energy projects can develop here, he said.
“We’ve been trying to get it on the forefront of government initiatives for a number of years.”
Local officials have been pushing the province to significantly upgrade regional transmission lines so they can handle new power projects and accommodate the future of the Lambton Generating Station.
In 2010, Energy Minister Brad Duguid ordered Hydro One to make the transmission system west of London a priority. It’s to be part of a $2-billion investment in the system across Ontario. But the project hasn’t exactly moved ahead at an electrifying pace.
On Thursday Jan. 19, Hydro One will finally hold a public consultation at the Brigden Community Hall to outline its upgrade plan.
While capacity will improve, it’s not clear how much more electricity the line will handle or what the cost of the upgrade will be, a Hydro One spokesman said.
Officials at the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) weren’t any more forthcoming.
“These projects are intended to upgrade the province’s transmission system to accommodate renewable projects, serve new load and support reliability,” OPA spokesman Tim Butters wrote in an email.
“Planning studies are continuing so the number of additional (megawatts) is not yet known,” he said.
While there are still many questions about the project, the president of the Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce is optimistic.
Garry McDonald spoke to ministry staff just before Christmas about it.
“We feel (additional transmission capacity) is a big factor in extending the life of Lambton Generating Station,” said McDonald.
Duguid requested an upgrade to the Lambton line as well as a completely new line, he said.
“The upgrade is to be finished by 2014, which coincides with the time when coal is supposed to be offline.
“That, as well as the gas line going to LGS, means the ministry is preparing for an opportunity that could exist,” said McDonald.
Local officials are urging the Liberal government to convert the coal-powered station to natural gas, saving hundreds of local jobs and increasing Ontario’s power supply.
“This upgrade to the transmission line is important to the existing LGS operation, all the green energy proposals for our area, and it’s important to future generation that could help the province,” McDonald said.
“I’m hoping this will mean more reason to keep LGS open and attract other power generating projects,” said Arnold. “If we end up with more energy creation locally, jobs will be created and that’s positive for all of us.”
Hydro One’s public consultation is scheduled for Jan. 19 from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. in the community hall at 3016 Brigden Road.
Observer Article ID# 3426695
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