Demand for electricity will continue to increase in northwestern Ontario due to an increase in mining, the use of EV’s and community growth.
That’s according to Ontario’s Electricity System Operator, which has just released a new long-term electricity plan for the region.
Kennan Ip from the IESO says the demand for electricity is expected to more than double by 2050.
“Really in response to some rapid growth and development in the Ear Falls and Red Lake areas, we launched an addendum study looking at northwestern Ontario,”
Ip says the report recommends building another transmission line in the region.
“A recent recommendation for a new 230 KV (Kilovolt) transmission line from Dryden to Ear Falls to Red Lake. Really a key reinforcement that’s going to help demand growth in the Ear Falls and Red Lake areas, coming from primarily in mining and also some community growth there.”
Ip says the IESO also recommends at least two transmission lines from Barrie to Sudbury to increase electricity supply from southern Ontario to northern Ontario.
He adds they will be doing some community engagement to seek input from Indigenous communities, municipalities, developers, and consumers into their long-range electricity plan.
