Hydro One has completed the new transmission line in collaboration with the First Nations and is expected to provide long-term benefits through an equity ownership model
Image: Hydro One has constructed the 76km Niagara Reinforcement Line as a double circuit 230 kV transmission line. Photo: Courtesy of Pexels from Pixabay.
Canadian electricity transmission and distribution provider Hydro One, along with Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, has announced the completion of the Niagara Reinforcement Line.
Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation is a community owned corporation of the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation.
Hydro One has completed the new transmission line in collaboration with the First Nations and is expected to provide long-term benefits through an equity ownership model, and serves as a framework for future infrastructure projects across Ontario.
Hydro One president and CEO Mark Poweska said: “The electrification of this line will not only deliver economic value to the people of Ontario, it also ensures that local First Nation communities continue to benefit for years to come.
We are committed to becoming a primary business partner to Indigenous communities by supporting employment, procurement and community investment opportunities as well as through business partnerships such as the Niagara Reinforcement Line.”
The First Nations ownership agreement is planned to be finalised in the coming weeks
Hydro One has constructed the 76km Niagara Reinforcement Line as a double circuit 230 kV transmission line running along its existing right-of-way between Allanburg Transformer Station and Middleport Transformer Station.
A6N, a joint venture between Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation and Aecon Group, was assigned the work to complete the transmission line.
Under the project’s partnership model, both First Nation partners are expected to have an equity ownership in the line, which would offer annual income over the life of the asset, and support the investments in local community priorities.
Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation president and chief executive officer Matt Jamieson said: “The Niagara Reinforcement Line will not only generate millions of dollars of benefit for the Six Nations community, it’s also a step forward for Indigenous participation in the economy.
“We have proven our ability to partner, and have demonstrated unprecedented capacity to leverage our skilled labour to drive economic development, not only within our community, but across Ontario.”