NEW- PUC Transmission Station Option 1-A

As part of the overall Project planning process, PUC has been further evaluating the feasibility and merits of the locations proposed for the Substation. Based on a preliminary analysis, a number of technical and environmental constraints were identified for Station Options 1 and 2, resulting in a proposal for a new Station Option 1-A to be considered as part of the Class EA.

Station Option 1: The land at the location proposed for Station Option 1 is owned by the city of Sault Ste. Marie and is currently zoned as industrial. The city has developed this site for potential future industrial uses.  Requesting the land for a PUC station would remove the land from the city’s inventory for future industrial land use; thereby potentially limiting industrial expansion within appropriately zoned areas. Thus, while it is feasible to use the site, it was determined by PUC that other options should be considered.   

Station Option 2: For the Station Option 2 location, the west side and north side of the proposed site are adjacent to a municipal flood diversion canal which is regulated by the Sault Ste. Marie region Conservation Authority (SSMRCA).  We understand that the minimum setback required by the Sault Ste. Marie Region Conservation Authority (SSMRCA) is 15 m from the flood line. Furthermore, the site is constrained by existing infrastructure, such that it would not be feasible to accommodate the footprint needed for the Station, even if the required setback were reduced to zero. Thus, this site is simply not large enough and therefore not feasible from a technical perspective. 

New Station Option 1-A: Based on the above constraints, PUC is introducing Station Option 1-A, located immediately south of Station Option 1. This new Station Option meets the overall substation dimension requirements of approximately 200 m by 300 m (i.e. 6 hectares in area) and the property is currently owned by Algoma Steel. Current use of the site is industrial and has been previously cleared, with limited natural features on site.

Next Steps: A detailed quantitative and qualitative evaluation is currently underway as part of the Class EA to evaluate the three Station Options and identify the preferred option based on technical, social and environmental criteria. The station option that is technically feasible and has the fewest potential adverse social and environmental effects will then be recommended as the preferred station location from a technical, environmental and socio-economic perspective.