Ontario’s electricity planner invites residents in northwestern Ontario to help shape a new regional power plan to meet rising energy demand.
Ontario Seeks Public Input on New Northwest Power Plan
Provincial call for participation
The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), Ontario’s provincial electricity planner, has launched a public engagement process to shape a new regional power plan for northwestern Ontario. The move aims to prepare the grid for rising demand driven by population growth and mining projects.
Rising demand projections
A recent IESO forecast suggests electricity demand north of Dryden could more than double by 2050, with even greater increases possible under high-growth scenarios. To address these pressures, IESO recommends new transmission lines to support expanding communities and industrial operations.
Infrastructure proposals
Beverly Nollert, IESO’s director of transmission planning, said the agency has identified several key transmission needs, including new lines connecting Sudbury, Barrie, Timmins, Wawa, and extending north of Dryden to Red Lake. She emphasized that these investments are vital to ensure a reliable supply of power for both residents and industry.
Importance for local growth
According to Nollert, reliable transmission infrastructure enables communities to expand and attracts industrial projects such as mining. “It allows industries to locate within the northwest and contributes to economic development opportunities across the region,” she said.
Community engagement process
The IESO has begun an 18-month consultation, inviting feedback from Indigenous communities, municipalities, developers, and consumers. The goal is to reflect local priorities in technical planning and to gather community input before final recommendations are adopted.
Mining sector concerns
Earlier this year, the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association’s (NOMA) Northwest Energy Task Force warned that electricity shortfalls could threaten the region’s mining boom. With 41 major exploration projects underway—37 aiming to be operational by 2033—the task force estimated the region will need about 250 megawatts of new generation capacity.
Regional power requirements
NOMA’s findings highlighted specific needs: 175 megawatts for mines in the Greenstone, Beardmore, Lake Nipigon, and Ring of Fire areas; 57 megawatts along the North Shore of Lake Superior; 123 megawatts for Ear Falls and Red Lake; and 120 megawatts for Thunder Bay. Local leaders stress that meeting these targets will be critical to sustaining economic growth.
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