After years of planning, shovels have officially gone into the ground to start building the new St. Clair Transmission Line.
A ceremonial groundbreaking was held Tuesday morning at the former Lambton Generating Station in Courtright.
Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce said the $471.9 million infrastructure project -- part of the Energy for Generation long-term plan -- is a major step forward in building a stronger, self-reliant energy system.
"There is hope, there is opportunity, there is growth on the horizon, there are jobs and investments, and Canadian solutions to the great challenges we face," Lecce said.
The new 64 kilometre, double-circuit, 230 kilovolt transmission line will connect Lambton County and Chatham-Kent, while expanding the existing Chatham Switching Station and Lambton Transformer Station. The project will also convert the existing Wallaceburg Transformer Station to 230 kilovolt.
The new transmission line is expected to provide 450 megawatts of power to the region and be completed by 2028.
"It is equivalent to adding power for the City of Windsor, for 450,000 homes," said Lecce. "This is a transformative step forward. It's about building the energy security we need, it's about creating jobs and getting it done in a timely manner."
Early development work began in 2022 with consultations.
Hydro One Chief Operating Officer Megan Telford said the company has been working with five First Nation communities: Aamjiwnaang First Nation, Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, Walpole Island First Nation, Caldwell First Nation, and Chippewas of the Thames First Nation.
"Through our industry-leading 50-50 first equity model, they've been offered a 50 per cent equity stake in the line," Telford said.
She said each First Nations partner decided how much to invest, and maintenance costs are very minimal.
Aamjiwnaang Chief Janelle Nahmabin said the project opens the door for economic opportunities.
"Employment for our community members is what we are continuously advocating for. I also think that this showcases the need for First Nation participation to make sure projects are successful, and that means sharing the information, and engagements, and consultation," Nahmabin said. "My hope is that this showcases what good relationship building is, to be collective energy stewards within this region."
Hydro One completed the Class Environmental Assessment and submitted its final Environmental Study Report last year. The utility stated its intent during a Chatham-Kent council meeting to minimize negative effects on the environment.
During Tuesday's event, Telford highlighted the use of land underneath transmission lines.
"The building of the line is absolutely important, how you build it, how you're treating the lands as well, but we think a lot about the children and families that live around transmission lines after they're built and actually, there's a lot of incredible environmental things we can do after a project as well," Telford said.
For example, some regions chose to install vertical farming or improve pollination through flora and fauna.
The construction project - led by Hydro One's contractor partners, Forbes Bros. and Black & McDonald - is expected to create 70 new jobs.
St. Clair Township Mayor Jeff Agar thanked the involved parties and suggested further energy projects in the area.
"It is my hope that this will influence the [Independent Electricity System Operator] at the end of the year to grant all of St. Clair's power and gas projects that are being applied for," Agar said. "This will create so many new employment opportunities for a lot of the skilled trades in this area."
At the beginning of the year, Lecce discussed the possibility of utilizing area generation sites to grow the power grid, whether that's nuclear, natural gas, hydrogen, small modular reactors, or battery storage.
During Tuesday's question period, Lecce said decisions have not been made and consultations are ongoing.
"All the local communities have expressed willingness to have that discussion, support resolutions for this. Now there are ongoing discussions and consultations with both communities and First Nation partners on what that energy project could look like," Lecce said. "It's not going to be a decade-long process, we want to build, we need to build and we [expect to] have energy gaps that emerge in the late 2030s and 40s."
Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey said breaking ground on the St. Clair Transmission Line is an important step in securing Ontario’s energy for our future. Electricity demand across the province is expected to increase 75 per cent by 2050.