Hydro One selects final path for new Windsor power line
The route will cross 60 properties in southwestern Ontario, with construction starting in 2028 to meet rising regional electricity demand.
By Lauren Foster ·
Hydro One has identified the preferred route for a new transmission line connecting Windsor and Lakeshore, choosing a path that minimizes the number of properties affected. The utility selected Option 2A, which crosses 60 parcels of land in total. Most of these are farm properties, with a smaller cluster of residential homes included in the footprint.
Sonny Karunakaran, Vice President of Strategic Projects and Partnerships at Hydro One, stated that the decision followed technical studies and feedback from public engagement sessions. He noted that the chosen route reuses an existing transmission corridor for approximately one-third of the distance. Karunakaran added that Option 2A received the highest scores for minimizing impacts on natural environment features, specifically water bodies and woodlots.
The project involves building a double-circuit 230-kilovolt line linking the Lakeshore Transformer Station to the Lauzon Transformer Station in Windsor. The Independent Electricity System Operator recommends this construction to address growing energy needs. Work is scheduled to begin in 2028, with the line expected to be in service by 2032. Karunakaran said the new infrastructure will provide just over 500 megawatts of power, which he compared to the electricity needs of a city the size of London.
Electricity demand across Ontario is rising, with the steepest growth occurring in the southwest. New homes, businesses, farming operations, and manufacturers are driving this increase. Karunakaran cited a prediction from the Independent Electricity System Operator that electrical demand will rise by 73 percent by 2050. He identified this projected growth as the primary reason for investing in the Windsor Lakeshore Power Line.
A final price for the project has not yet been determined. Hydro One expects to release a cost estimate by mid-2027. The utility has also initiated a Class Environmental Assessment for the project.
Two public open houses are scheduled for late November to inform residents and property owners about the plan. The first will be held on Wednesday, November 25, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Libro Community Centre, located at 1925 South Middle Road in Woodslee. The second event will take place on Thursday, November 26, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Forest Glade Community Centre, located at 3215 Forest Glade Drive in Windsor.
