ITC Lake Erie Connector, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITC Holdings, the largest independent electricity transmission company in the US, announced that Canada's Governor in Council has approved the issuance of a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the ITC Lake Erie Connector transmission line.

Canada's National Energy Board (NEB) issued the certificate on June 26. The NEB provided its initial recommendation of the certificate to Canada's Governor in Council on January 19, 2017. The issuance of the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity completes the project's major permit application process in Canada.

In addition, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection on May 25, 2017 issued two required permits for the project: a State Water Obstruction and Encroachment Permit, and a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit for Stormwater Associated with Construction Activities. This completes the project's major permit process in Pennsylvania, which ITC initiated on January 29, 2016.

The ITC Lake Erie Connector is a proposed 1,000 MW, bi-directional, high-voltage direct current (HVDC) underwater transmission line that would provide the first direct link between the markets of the Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM). The project would enable transmission customers to more efficiently access energy, capacity and renewable energy credit opportunities in both markets.

"These are key milestones in the development of the Lake Erie Connector Project," said Terry Harvill, Ph.D., president, ITC Grid Development. "We appreciate the thorough attention given to our application by the Governor in Council, the National Energy Board and the state of Pennsylvania. This electric transmission interconnection under Lake Erie would provide Ontario with access to a new, large export market for excess electricity generation, and this bi-directional line also would allow less expensive, clean energy to flow into the province from the U.S.," said Dr. Harvill.