Lake Erie Connector
| Lake Erie Connector | |
|---|---|
 Map of Lake Erie Connector | |
| Location | |
| Country | Canada United States |
| From | Nanticoke, Ontario |
| To | Erie, Pennsylvania |
| Ownership information | |
| Owner | NextEra Energy |
| Technical information | |
| Type of current | HVDC |
| Total length | 117 km (73 mi) |
| Power rating | 1000 MW |
The Lake Erie Connector is a planned underwater electric transmission line that would run under Lake Erie to connect the power grids of the Canadian province of Ontario with the American state of Pennsylvania.[1] The 117 kilometres (73 mi) high-voltage direct current line will carry up to 1000 MW and run from Nanticoke, Ontario to Erie County, Pennsylvania.[2]
The connector is budgeted at US$1 billion.[3]
Energy planners first started to work on the project in 2004.[4]
The Lake Erie Connector will use high-voltage DC technology and will be completely buried under the lake bed. NextEra Energy Transmission claims that the project would enhance grid reliability, increase access to renewable energy sources and create economic benefits for both regions.[5]
However, on July 26th, 2022, ITC Investment Holdings Inc. decided to "suspend all project development activities and commercial negotiations on the Lake Erie Connector project."[6]
In early 2024, NextEra Energy acquired the rights to the project, and the Canada Infrastructure Bank has invested another C$655 million into the project. The head of the Canada Infrastructure Bank has made statements that the project is still "very viable," and they "still think it will get built."[7]
References
- ^
Sarah Reid (2017-06-30). "What the Lake Erie Connector project could mean for your hydro bill: The federal government last week approved a transmission line that would run under Lake Erie from Ontario to Pennsylvania. But will it mean lower electricity prices?". TV Ontario. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
Last week, the federal government approved the Lake Erie Connector project, a 1,000-megawatt transmission line to be buried under the lake, sending electricity 117 kilometres back and forth between Nanticoke, Ontario, and Erie County in Pennsylvania.
- ^ "Lake Erie Connector Project: Draft Environmental Assessment" (PDF). United States Department of Energy. June 2016. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
- ^ Jamison Hixenbaugh (2017-06-28). "Canadian Government Approves $1 Billion Lake Erie Connector Project". Erie News Now. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
- ^
Jay Greene (2017-06-28). "Novi-based ITC to build transmission line under Lake Erie". Crain's Detroit. Retrieved 2017-07-03.
Novi-based ITC Holding Corp. is embarking on a new path in its 14-year history to build a 73-mile, $1 billion high-voltage direct current transmission line under the waters of Lake Erie that will connect the energy markets of Pennsylvania with Ontario.
- ^ "NextEra Energy Transmission | Lake Erie Connector". www.nexteraenergytransmission.com. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
- ^ sndev (2022-08-02). "Lake Erie Connector Project Suspended -". Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
- ^ Lum, Zi-Ann (2024-04-10). "Lake Erie Connector project still 'very viable,' says bank head". E&E News by POLITICO. Retrieved 2025-09-19.
External links