THUNDER BAY, Ontario, June 13, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wataynikaneyap Power LP (Wataynikaneyap Power) announced today that it has filed a leave to construct application with the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) to construct and operate the Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission Project.
The Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission Project is an unprecedented First Nations-led project to build approximately 1,800 kilometres of transmission lines in Northwestern Ontario to connect 17 First Nations communities to the Ontario power grid. The project will reinforce the existing transmission grid to Pickle Lake and will expand grid service north of Pickle Lake and Red Lake to ultimately connect 17 First Nations communities.
"We are very pleased to see continued progress on the Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission Project. This is an incredibly important project that will provide clean, reliable power to the First Nations communities in Northern Ontario that are currently living off the grid and relying on very expensive, environmentally-unfriendly diesel generators to power their homes and businesses," said Margaret Kenequanash, CEO of Wataynikaneyap Power.
Filing a leave to construct application under Section 92 is an OEB requirement for any company proposing to build an electricity transmission line in Ontario. The application provides details of the project such as timing, design and costs, and is an OEB requirement for any company proposing to build an electricity transmission line in Ontario.
"Filing the leave to construct application is the next significant milestone in the Wataynikaneyap Project. We are committed to this important project and honoured to work with our 22 First Nations partners in seeing it come to fruition. This filing is a major step forward on that journey,” said Scott Hawkes, President and CEO of FortisOntario Inc. and Wataynikaneyap Power PM Inc.
About Wataynikaneyap Power:
Wataynikaneyap Power LP ("Wataynikaneyap Power") is a licensed transmission partnership equally owned by 22 First Nation communities (51%), in partnership with Fortis Inc. (49%). FortisOntario Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortis Inc., and an electricity transmission and distribution utility holding company based in Ontario, owns 49% of the general partner of Wataynikaneyap Power and acts as the project manager through Wataynikaneyap Power PM Inc. To connect remote First Nations communities to the electrical grid, Wataynikaneyap Power will develop, manage construction, and operate approximately 1,800 kilometres of 230 kV, 115 kV, and 44 kV lines in northwestern Ontario. For further information visit www.wataypower.ca.
About FortisOntario:
FortisOntario Inc. ("FortisOntario") is an electric utility, which owns and operates Canadian Niagara Power Inc., Cornwall Street Railway Light & Power Company Ltd., and Algoma Power Inc., serving approximately a combined 65,500 customers. FortisOntario also owns regulated transmission assets with approximately 3,460 kilometres of distribution and transmission lines, and meets a peak demand of approximately 248 MW. FortisOntario also act as project manager for the Wataynikaneyap Power Transmission Project. For further information visit www.fortisontario.com. FortisOntario is a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electric and gas utility industry. For further information visit www.fortisinc.com.
Media Contacts:
Kristine Carmichael, Director of Corporate and Customer Services, FortisOntario Inc.
(905) 994-3637 – Kristine.Carmichael@fortisontario.com