As more greenhouses open in Southwestern Ontario in the years ahead, more electricity will be needed. Assessments are ongoing and municipalities, greenhouses, Indigenous people and others in the region are all in this together. In an open letter in the WindsorStar, Terry Young, the Interim President and CEO of the Independent Electricity System Operator, explains what the company is doing.
To address the electricity needs in Southwestern Ontario, the Independent Electricity System Operator has requested Hydro One build a new transmission line between the Lambton Transformer Station near Sarnia and Chatham. "This new line, expected to be in service by 2028, will bring much needed electricity to the region from generating stations in other parts of the province," says Terry Young.
Southwestern Ontario is one of the fastest-growing regions in Ontario with respect to electricity use as a result of the massive growth in the indoor agriculture sector.
"While the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) is forecasting a one per cent growth in demand for the entire province over the next 20 years, our forecasts show agricultural electricity demand in the region quadrupling over the next 15 years from about 500 megawatts today to roughly 2000 megawatts by 2035," says Terry.
While traditional transmission line solutions like this one remain an important and reliable way of responding to rapid growth, it is not the only solution they have deployed.
Read about the other solutions at www.windsorstar.com.