Hydro One Breaks Ground on the St. Clair Transmission Line to Power Southwest Ontario
September 10, 2025
The line is being built through the First Nation Equity Partnership Model and will increase power supply in the growing region
Hydro One, alongside First Nation partners and provincial and municipal leaders, celebrated the groundbreaking of the St. Clair Transmission Line on September 9th. The $471.9 million investment is expected to support economic and community development in a rapidly growing region of the province. As an Ontario-based company, Hydro One is building an electricity grid to meet the anticipated growth in demand across the province. In the southwest, this will help enable the expansion of electric vehicle manufacturing and farming operations to support a reliable, strong and secure supply chain in Ontario.
“With today’s groundbreaking we’re building more than infrastructure, we’re taking another step forward to help power the future for the region and province,” said Megan Telford, Chief Operating Officer, Hydro One. “Each new line Hydro One builds is an opportunity for partnership with First Nations and to buy goods and services from Indigenous and Ontario suppliers. Together, we’re building a more self-reliant and secure electricity system to power growth in every corner of the province. We know taking action today will create a stronger Ontario for future generations.”
The St. Clair Transmission Line is part of a network of projects including the Chatham to Lakeshore line that was energized in late-2024 and Longwood to Lakeshore transmission lines, being developed in collaboration with five First Nation partners in the region. Through Hydro One’s 50-50 First Nation Equity Partnership Model, First Nation partners have been offered a 50 per cent equity stake in the transmission line component of the project.
“This project highlights the vital role First Nations have in shaping Ontario’s energy future,” said Janelle Nahmabin, Chief of Aamjiwnaang First Nation. “By bringing Indigenous knowledge and leadership to the table, we are helping to build a stronger, more resilient electricity system. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Hydro One as we work together to power growth, opportunity, and a brighter future for both our community and all of Ontario.”
Construction of the project is anticipated to generate approximately 70 new jobs and will be led by Hydro One’s contractor partners, Forbes Bros. Group of Companies and Black & McDonald Limited. Both are Canadian-owned companies with decades of proven expertise in working with Indigenous communities and delivering large-scale transmission infrastructure.
Electricity demand in southwest Ontario continues to increase quickly. The Independent Electricity System Operator predicts demand for electricity in the region will quadruple by 2035, while demand across Ontario will surge approximately 75 per cent by 2050. Once built, the St. Clair Transmission Line is expected to provide an additional 450 megawatts of clean electricity to the region – enough to power a city the size of London.
To learn more about the project, please visit St. Clair Transmission Line project.
