Ontario has formally designated Hydro One Networks Inc. to develop and construct the Greenstone Transmission Line, a major new electricity infrastructure project aimed at improving reliability and unlocking economic growth in northern Ontario.
In a directive to the Ontario Energy Board, Ontario Energy and Mines Minister Stephen Lecce confirmed that Hydro One will lead the development of the priority transmission line in the Greenstone region. The project is intended to increase electricity capacity, enhance system reliability for northern and remote communities, and support long-term industrial and community development.
The proposed project consists of a single-circuit 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line designed to accommodate a future second circuit. It will connect to existing 230-kV infrastructure—known as the East-West Tie—near Nipigon Bay. From there, the line will extend to the Longlac Transformer Station, where a new 230-kV station will link to an existing 115-kV circuit. The route will continue to or near Aroland First Nation, terminating at a newly constructed 230-kV switching station with associated facilities. The line is expected to enter service in 2032.
A central feature of the project is Hydro One’s First Nation 50-50 Equity Partnership Model. Under this framework, proximate First Nations will have the opportunity to invest in a 50 percent equity stake in the transmission line component. Hydro One and participating communities will collaborate on planning, development and construction, marking one of the largest Indigenous equity participation models in Canadian electricity transmission infrastructure.
Hydro One President and CEO David Lebeter described the designation as the result of three years of collaboration between First Nations, the company and the province. He said the transmission line will form a foundation for a secure and reliable electricity system in northern Ontario while also strengthening local economies through partnerships and procurement from Canadian, Ontario and Indigenous suppliers.
Minister Lecce framed the project as part of Ontario’s broader strategy to accelerate resource development and strengthen domestic supply chains. He pointed to recent government actions aimed at shortening permitting timelines for mining projects and boosting mineral processing capacity within Canada. According to Lecce, the Greenstone Transmission Line will provide the energy infrastructure needed to unlock the significant critical mineral deposits in the Ring of Fire region, positioning Ontario as a stable and strategic supplier of key resources.
Leaders from several First Nations communities welcomed the announcement, emphasizing the project’s potential to address longstanding reliability challenges and create economic opportunities. Chiefs representing Red Rock Indian Band, Aroland First Nation, Animbiigoo Zaagi’igan Anishinaabek, Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek, Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinabek, Ginoogaming First Nation and Long Lake #58 First Nation highlighted the importance of equity ownership, job creation, training initiatives and long-term revenue generation.
Many leaders described the partnership as a meaningful step toward economic reconciliation, enabling communities to build generational wealth while maintaining stewardship of their lands and strengthening their role in regional development.
Hydro One Limited, the parent company of Hydro One Networks Inc., is Ontario’s largest electricity transmission and distribution provider, serving approximately 1.5 million customers. As of December 31, 2024, the company reported $36.7 billion in assets and $8.5 billion in annual revenue. In 2024, Hydro One invested $3.1 billion in its transmission and distribution networks and purchased $2.9 billion in goods and services to support economic activity.
The Greenstone Transmission Line is expected to play a critical role in supporting northern Ontario’s growing energy demand, improving grid resilience and enabling future mining and industrial projects tied to Canada’s critical minerals strategy.
