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TORONTO – Ontario Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce has directed the Ontario Energy Board to amend Hydro One Networks Inc.’s transmission licence to develop and construct a new line between Bowmanville and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

According to a release, the proposed project is a new double-circuit 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line from the Bowmanville Switching Station to either the Parkway Transformer Station (TS), Claireville TS or Cherrywood TS, including associated station facility expansions or upgrades required at terminal stations. The line is expected to be in service in the early-2030s.

In addition, the government has issued priority designation to this line and two other projects:

• The reconductoring of a portion of Hydro One’s existing E8V/E9V 230-kV transmission line from the Orangeville TS to the Essa TS, expected to be in service in 2027.
• A new double-circuit 230-kV transmission line from the Lauzon TS to the Lakeshore TS, including associated station expansions or upgrades, expected to be in service by 2032.

Hydro One will build the line in partnership with First Nations in proximity who will also have the opportunity to invest in a 50 per cent equity stake in the transmission line component of the project.

This latest news on the Bowmanville project comes after AtkinsRéalis Group Inc. was recently selected by Hydro One for a multi-year owner’s engineer mandate for the expansion of the Bowmanville switching station.

The expansion, situated across from the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, will enable grid connection of the planned build of four Small Modular Reactors by Ontario Power Generation at the adjacent Darlington New Nuclear Project site, explains a release.