Fortis suspends $1.7 billion project to export Ontario gas-fired electricity to Pennsylvania
From the Ontario Clean Air Alliance
By Angela Bischoff, Director
On July 29th Fortis Inc. announced that it has suspended development activities and commercial negotiations with Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) for a contract to finance the building of a $1.7 billion transmission line under Lake Erie to export Ontario gas-fired electricity to Pennsylvania.
Fortis has made the right decision despite the fact that both our provincial and federal governments had offered support for this misguided project.
In April 2021 the Canada Infrastructure Bank approved a $655 million low-interest, long-term loan to support the export line.
Then on March 31, 2022 Ontario’s Minister of Energy, Todd Smith, directed the IESO to enter into a sole-source procurement contract with Fortis by Aug. 15, 2022 for the construction of the line.
Fortis’ decision to walk away from its proposed export line is good news for our planet and Ontario’s electricity consumers.
The Canada Infrastructure Bank and the Province of Ontario now have an opportunity to realign their priorities with the pressing need to reduce climate damaging emissions. They can do that by providing support for expanding our transmission links with Quebec so that we can import more of its low-cost waterpower.
What you can do
Please send a message to federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, Ontario Energy Minister Todd Smith and your MPP encouraging them to put financial muscle to work on reducing climate damaging emissions, not increasing them.
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