118-km of power lines to be erected from London to Sarnia

Farmers Forum staff

SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO — Ontario’s greenhouse and indoor farming sector is helping to drive the province’s growing electricity demand, a fact cited by Hydro One as it plans a pair of 500-kilovolt transmission lines across a 118-km stretch of countryside through Middlesex, Chatham-Kent and Essex counties.

Overall, Ontarians are projected to consume four times more electricity by 2035, according to information presented at a virtual open house on the powerline project this spring. A 60-foot wide corridor will be carved through land on the route between Longwood, southwest of London, and Lakeshore, east of Sarnia. Agricultural activities will be permitted within the corridor, though new buildings won’t be.

One person at the session raised concerns about the impact on agricultural land, including crop loss, soil compaction and livestock health. Hydro One says it has programs to compensate farmers and remediate their land.

The Ontario Federation of Agriculture supports the project. OFA president Drew Spoelstra described it as “critical to help meet the energy demand of our region, which is largely driven by economic development in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors.”

Farmers are encouraged to engage via hydroone.com/longwoodtolakeshore, where an interactive map details the study area.