Windsor-Lakeshore Power Line Proposal Sparks Environmental Concerns Among Landowners
A proposed high-power transmission line between Windsor and Lakeshore has ignited significant apprehension among local residents, particularly those who own woodlots and wetlands in the area. Landowners fear the project could devastate some of the region's last remaining patches of rare natural habitats, raising alarms about ecological fragmentation and species displacement.
"It Would Be Pretty Disastrous"
"It's an important piece of land and to fragment it more would be pretty disastrous on a lot of different species," said Kurtis Rhoads, a spokesperson for a group of Woodslee landowners opposing the project. Rhoads, along with his brother Adam, stands beside a massive oak tree on their family farm in Lakeshore, expressing deep concern about potential clearing of wooded land that has been in their family for generations.
Rhoads emphasized that local natural spaces are "rapidly disappearing" and warned that the transmission line could "destroy" environmental sanctuaries that exist in the few remaining pockets of Essex County. "They are going to disturb the environmental sanctuaries that exist in the very few pockets of our county," he stated. "I would hate to see any of that destroyed."
Hydro One's Infrastructure Plans
Hydro One is currently studying possible routes for a new double-circuit 230-kilovolt transmission line designed to address a looming surge in electricity demand across Southwest Ontario. The utility company projects that energy demand in the region will quadruple by 2035, necessitating significant infrastructure investments.
"New homes are being built, new businesses are setting up shop, farming operations and manufacturers want to invest and grow in the region," explained Sonny Karunakaran, Hydro One's vice-president of strategic projects and partnerships. "The culmination of those investments means that we need to invest in the power system to service that growth."
The proposed Windsor-to-Lakeshore transmission line is expected to increase available power to the region by 500 megawatts—equivalent to energizing a city the size of London—and is scheduled to become operational by the end of 2032.
Route Options and Potential Impacts
Hydro One has identified two potential routes for the transmission line, both originating from the existing Lauzon Transformer Station between Lauzon Parkway and Lauzon Road in Windsor and terminating at the Lakeshore Transformer Station on South Middle Road in South Woodslee.
The first route option would approach west from Lakeshore, crossing Highway 401 east of Concession Road 4, just west of Lakeshore Road 101. From there, the line would follow one of two alignments:
- A southern route crossing County Road 42 west of Banwell Road
- A northern route crossing County Road 42 east of Manning Road and running roughly parallel to the rail line to the Lauzon station
The second route option would run south, just north of South Middle Road, before turning north ahead of Manning Road and connecting with the same two alternatives identified in the first option.
For the Rhoads family, who have farmed the land for five generations, the first route poses particular concern. If selected as the preferred option, it could require clearing wooded sections of their family farm, representing not just an environmental loss but a personal one as well.
Balancing Development and Conservation
The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between infrastructure development and environmental conservation in rapidly growing regions. While Hydro One emphasizes the necessity of the project to support economic growth and meet escalating energy demands, landowners like the Rhoads brothers argue that the ecological costs are too high.
As the planning process continues, stakeholders on both sides await further details about the proposed routes and their specific environmental impacts. The outcome will likely set important precedents for how Ontario balances energy infrastructure needs with the preservation of its remaining natural spaces.
