Ontario Construction News staff writer
Hydro One has started community engagement on a proposed 22-kilometre transmission line to connect Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) proposed Darlington new nuclear project, Canada’s first grid-scale, small modular reactor (SMR) to the province’s electricity grid.
On Mar. 8, the company held its first open house in Courtice to provide information about the environment assessment process and answer questions.
“This critical project will ensure Ontario remains an attractive place to invest, live and work,” said Daniel Levitan, vice president of stakeholder relations, Hydro One. “Early engagement with Indigenous communities, municipalities and residents is vital to project planning and we received some valuable, informative feedback.
“We encourage the community to ask questions and continue to bring us their feedback throughout the duration of this project to support the growing needs of the region and province.”
Hydro One has initiated a Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) to build a new transmission line that can carry up to 500 kilovolts (kV) in Clarington. The new line will connect OPG’s proposed SMR to the province’s electricity grid, which will provide 300 megawatts of power to the community, enough to energize 300,000 homes. It will be built within the current electrical corridor, adjacent to existing transmission lines.
“OPG is proud to be working with its project partners to construct and connect North America’s first Small Modular Reactor, which is key to achieving economy-wide decarbonization by 2050,” said Carol Gregoris, Project Director, OPG. “Hydro One’s proposed transmission line will increase the power supply to the region and allow for the SMR to connect to Ontario’s electricity grid.”
For more information about the project and to learn about upcoming community engagement opportunities, click the link.