The Lake Erie Connector project is being developed by ITC Holdings Corp., the largest independent electricity transmission company in the U.S. and a subsidiary of Canada-based Fortis, Inc.
The ITC Lake Erie Connector would create a new energy transmission corridor between the Ontario IESO and PJM energy markets, helping improve the security and reliability of the grid. It also is expected to help increase market efficiencies and benefit the economies of both regions. The project would allow the bi-directional flow of power and associated benefits between the two countries in an environmentally friendly and sustainable way. The project has the potential to strengthen the regional grid by playing a role in emergency grid restoration.
The energy currently must flow across limited existing interties and through other markets such as Michigan or New York to travel around Lake Erie. Since it is so desirable to reach this market, some entities do schedule power in this way, but it is inefficient and costly. The Lake Erie Connector will provide a new, direct, and efficient trading route between the two markets and will benefit both regions.
The proposed route of the Lake Erie Connector is between Erie County, Pennsylvania and Nanticoke, Ontario, beneath Lake Erie.
The two points of interconnection in Ontario and Pennsylvania were chosen because they provide excellent access to the existing transmission systems. The cable route has been optimized to connect these two points while minimizing environmental impacts, avoiding areas of historical and archeological interest (such as shipwrecks), and utilizing low impact shoreline crossings.
There are a variety of generation sources in the markets of the Ontario Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) and PJM Interconnection, and neighboring regions. The shippers who purchase capacity on the Lake Erie Connector would determine the source of the energy they transfer.
Ontario is Canada’s second largest province, covering more than one million square kilometers (415,000 square miles) with a population of 13.5 million. PJM comprises all or part of 13 U.S. states, with a population exceeding 60 million – the largest energy market in the world.
Yes, ITC has held or participated in numerous public consultations in Ontario and Pennsylvania – the respective connecting points of the line – to discuss the project and gather community input.
Our project development team has worked closely with local and regional planners and with local residents and other stakeholders in the U.S. and Canada to minimize impacts to local residents. As with all transmission projects where ITC is involved, we work cooperatively with landowners to ensure the most appropriate route is established to the benefit of all stakeholders and the environment.
The project requires approval from the U.S. Department of Energy (issued Jan. 12, 2017); Canada’s Governor in Council and the National Energy Board (issued June 26, 2017); the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (issued May 25, 2017); and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (pending). ITC filed other required state and local applications. The interconnection process has been initiated at the IESO and PJM. Remaining milestones in the project include completing project cost refinements and securing favorable transmission service agreements with prospective counterparties, after which ITC would proceed with construction with the goal to place the project in service in late 2020 or early 2021.
The ITC Lake Erie Connector would use two cables that are each approximately six inches in diameter. A ship would lay the HVDC cable along the bottom or Lake Erie utilizing low-impact water jet technology to create a temporary trench that is only slightly wider than the cable itself, and which would be filled by natural forces.
Placing transmission cables beneath waterways is an established and safe way to move power. These cables will be well insulated, do not contain liquids or gels, and are made from non-flammable materials.
This is highly unlikely. The cables would be placed safely and securely beneath the lakebed. In the unlikely event that the cable is damaged, the system can identify the location and shut down within fractions of a second. Protocols are in place at both converter stations to ensure safety.
High-voltage direct current (HVDC) uses direct current to transmit electricity, in contrast with the more common alternating current (AC) systems. HVDC systems are often built as an overlay to a robust AC system or for unique circumstances. HVDC transmission lines are especially appropriate for underwater applications. HVDC systems have a long record of reliable performance around the world. As an analogy, an AC line is like a highway, with multiple interconnections to the regional grid that act as on- and off-ramps. A DC line is more like a tunnel, with an entrance and an exit but no interconnections along the line.
Yes, transmission lines similar to the Lake Erie Connector have been in use all over the world for many years.
TThe technology involved and the line route for the Lake Erie Connector were chosen to minimize environmental impact. The line will be buried under the lake bed and at the landing points. The safe and reliable HVDC technology ensures that this energy transmission line has no adverse impact to the environment. From planning our projects within the best interest of the environment to recycling at our facilities, ITC focuses on sustainability efforts that set a positive example for the other businesses and the communities we serve. These efforts have been recognized at the local, state and federal level.
No. The current project plan envisions all of the cable being installed underwater or underground.
The costs for this line would be borne by the parties that purchase capacity on the line.
There are numerous examples of similar types of projects that have been in operation for decades.