Province powering economic growth and job creation in Southwestern Ontario
On September 9, 2025, the Ontario government announced that Hydro One is breaking ground on the St. Clair Transmission Line, a major infrastructure project that supports the province’s plan to protect Ontario by securing provincial energy supplies, fuelling economic growth and creating good-paying jobs.
The new 64-kilometre, double-circuit 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line will connect the County of Lambton and Municipality of Chatham-Kent, while expanding the existing Chatham Switching Station and Lambton Transformer Station (TS) and converting the existing Wallaceburg TS to 230 kV by 2028.
“Southwestern Ontario is thriving, and reliable energy is essential to keep that momentum going,” said Stephen Lecce, Minister of Energy and Mines.
“The St. Clair Transmission Line will deliver the affordable, clean power our communities and businesses need to grow and stay competitive. This project is a major step forward in our government’s plan to protect Ontario by building a stronger, self-reliant energy system that creates jobs and powers our economy for generations to come.”
Southwestern Ontario is the site of some of the fastest industrial and population growth in the province, fueled by Canada’s first EV and battery manufacturing facilities, expanded greenhouse operations and major residential development.
With electricity demand in the Windsor-Essex and surrounding Chatham region expected to grow to more than 2,300 megawatts (MW) over the next 10 years and provincial demand projected to increase 75 per cent by 2050, ensuring a reliable electricity system in this region is critical to keeping jobs and investment while preventing costly delays to new connections.
This new transmission line will provide 450 MW of reliable power to the region – the equivalent of adding enough power for a city of the size of Windsor.
In 2022, Hydro One was directed by the government to begin early development work on the St. Clair Transmission Line following public and Indigenous consultations. This project is part of a network of electricity infrastructure projects that will support the regions’ economic growth. Construction of the project is anticipated to generate approximately 70 new jobs and will be led by Hydro One’s contractor partners, Forbes Bros. and Black & McDonald.
The St. Clair Transmission Line is part of Energy for Generations, the government’s long-term plan to deliver reliable, affordable and secure energy to power Ontario’s future. Backed by record investments in energy infrastructure, Ontario’s integrated approach is giving Indigenous communities, municipalities, businesses and industry partners the confidence to invest, grow and build here in Ontario.
With a clear path forward, the plan is not only meeting the demands of today, but it is protecting jobs, supporting workers and powering economic growth for generations to come.
Ontario is home to over 30,000 km of high voltage electricity transmission lines that carry power from generating stations to communities, industries and homes across the province.
Energy for Generations builds on the 2024 vision paper Ontario’s Affordable Energy Future: The Pressing Case for More Power.
The Protect Ontario by Securing Affordable Energy for Generations Act, 2025, if passed, will support major growth in the province’s energy system to meet rising demand, while keeping energy affordable, secure, reliable and clean for generations to come.
~ Image: Ontario Ministry of Energy and Mines