HomeMy WebLinkAbout75-138REPORT NO. 118
REPORT ON EVALUATION OF SOLANDT
COMMISSION; -
INTRODUCTION°
The Solandt Commission studied the transmission of power from
the Lennox Generating Station to the proposed Oshawa Transformer
Station. Because of the cost involveds underwater and underground
transmission were discounted. The Commission then began the task
of selecting a suitable overland route.
Four main routes, with sub-alternativess were suggested by
various agencies.
(1) The Gatineau Route _
(2) The route recommended by the Ontario Hydro -
Commonwealth Associate Incorporated Reports
now hereafter referred to as the OH -CAI route.
(3) The Ganaraska Route
(4) The 401 South Route
The alternatives were then evaluated on the basis of the following
main criteria;
(1) Cost (affected by route miless total acreage)
(2) Environmental Impact (affected by Agricultural
acreages forest acreages and visual impact).
A summary of this data collected on these routes is included in the
appendix to this report. The Commission's comments and the views
of this department concerning the advantages and disadvantages of
each route have been summarized below.
- 2 -
(continued)........
1. The Gatineau Routes
This route presents several technical problems related to the
age and method of acquisition of the existing easement. The main
advantage of this route, as seen by the Commission, is the fact
that since a great portion of the required area lies within the
limits of the Canadian Shield, a lower percentage of good agric-
ultural land is required. Unfortunately, this route does cross
good agriculture land within the Town, and would require a 770'
wide corridor north from Darlington and Wesleyville. For these
reasons, we agree with the committee decision that the disadvan-
tages of this route outweigh the advantages.
2. The OH -CAI Route -
This is the route favoured by the Region of Durham.
The main disadvantage to the Town of Newcastle is the fact
that a wider corridor would be required from Darlington to
Oshawa than would be required in the 401 route. On the OH -CAI
route, a 1210 foot corridor containing 7 lines is required for
3.4 miles from Lot 229 Concession 69 of Darlington to the Oshawa
Transmission Station. The land affected by this wide corridor
is designated Environmental Protection Area in the Interim Dis-
trict Plan and contains the Headwaters of the Harmony -Farewell
Creek System. Most of the land crossed by this route has high
recreational and/or agricultural potential. Some sections would
be suited to estate residential development in the future.
- 3 -
(continued).....
Location of the power line at this location would severely
limit the Town's options in the area.
3. The Ganaraska Route:
The main advantage of this route is the fact that less land
suited to agriculture and active recreation is affected. This
route is less expensive than the Gatineau route and would have
the least visual impact through the forest segment of the route.
However, the greated disadvantage of this route is the fact
that it does pass through the Ganaraska Forest. Three lines
within a 600 foot easement would create great problems in an
ecologically sensitive area set aside for passive recreation and
conservation, these problems would be created by the number of
mature trees affected, as well as the possible erosion and in-
terference with drainage patterns involved.
This proposal would also involve considerable high quality
agricultural land in the norther part of Darlington Township.
Like the OH -CAI route, it would use more land in total in the
Town of Newcastle than the Commission Route.
4. The 401 South Route;
This route, which is located south of Highway 401, was rec-
ommended by the Solandt Commission. The main advantage of this
route is the relatively narrow width of land required (see chart).
Because of the alignment of the route, only three lines in a
600 foot corridor are required. This is from 100 to 710 feet
less than that required by any other alternative for the
- 4 -
4. (continued)......
Darlington to Oshawa Transformer Station section. This route is
also the least demanding in terms of cost, route miles, forest
acreage covered, and total acreage required.
The Solandt Commission recommended this alternative because
it falls within an existing "utility, corridor" where Highways
401 and 29 as well as the C.N.R. and C.P.R. main lines already
exist. The Commission states that, because of noise levels,
residential development should not be allowed within 1000 feet
of Highway 4019 and that these lines would effectively fill this
space. This reasoning appears sound.
The main disadvantages of this route are its visual impact.
The visual impact would be especially improtant along the segment
through Bowmanville, from Holt Road to Bennett Road where it
would interfere with the view of the Lake from Highway 401, and
adjacent residential subdivisions. However, the immediate align-
ment is zoned Industrial, and rural and visual intrusion into
these areas is not as serious a factor as it would be in residen-
tial areas. The lines could be camouflaged by vegetation along
the 401.
- 5 -
COMMENTS
From every point of view except visual intrusion, the Commission
Route appears to be the preferable route. However, we feel that the
considerable cost to be saved by the Commission Route should be re-
directed to undergrounding relatively small highly visible sections
and planting landscaping screens along the adjacent highway. On the
whole, given all the factors involved, we feel that the Commissioner
has chosen the least offensive route, and we recommend that his report
be enforsed by the Town, subject to the provisions mentioned above.
This should not be taken as an endorsement of the Darlington
Generating Station or an acceptance of the overall need for either
the Generating Station or the Transmission Lines of the scale
proposed.
Respectfully submitted,
George F. Howden,
Planning Director.
- 6
ESTIMATED COSTS
Present Worth - in Millions of Dollars
Gatineau
via
Hinchinbrooke D CAI 401
STAGE
1
240
- 255
188
180
172
STAGE
11
295
- 310
233
244
205
;r rii ,inn?�>tiiu:. ht�Fx�-t
o Prina.pal Recommendations
Tp. Commission accepts the need for 500 kV connections between th€
Lennox, Wesieyville and proposed Darlington Generating S�ations a
the proposed Oshawa Area Transformer Station_
2) The route recommended by the Commission for these 500 kV lines is
shown in detail on Map 3, page 117. The route proceeds north fro"
the Lennox Generating Station to Mount Pleasant Junction, near
Highway 401, within a right-of-way already acquired by Ontario
Hydro. It then follows the route described in the Ontario Hydro;
Commonwealth Associates Inc. reports which, after crossing Highwa;
401, turns west crossing the Moira River just north of Corbyville
and the Trent River just south of Batawa and continues to a point
near Osaca in Hope Township. In Hope Township the Commission
route2 turns south to enter the site of the Wesleyville Generatic
Station. This segment of the route consists of 2 double -circuit
500 kV lines within a 425 foot right-of-way.
From the Wesleyville Generating Station, the Commission route cot:
tinues west, just south of Highway 401, to the site of the propos
Darlington Generating Station. This segment of the route.consis'
initially of 2 double -circuit 500 kV lines within a 425, foot riga
of -way.
From the Darlington Generating Station site north to the Oshawa
Area Transformer Station, the Commission route follows the egress
route recommended in the OH/CAI report. Here three double-;imu
500 kV lines will be contained in a 600 foot right-of-way.
1 Hereafter referred to as the off/CAI report, commonwealth Associa
Inc. is a firm of environmental consultants than was retained by
Ontario Hydro to study the route.
have been "recommended", "preferred" or "eel
2 Since so many routes
ted", this route will, to avoid ambiguity, be called the ftommise
route.
y
3j gip, C-OWOSSion supports the OH/CIU recoenme'"tion that the proposed
Oshawa Area Transformer Station be located in Concession Yil of
Darlington` Township, at its western bowMMry.
a) Thio OM/CAI report includes provision of r 111t•of-wee for enough
toren lines to incorporate into tlhe8011 iilh system a seaMld genere-
VON Station at each of the three sips (Iielriox, Nesleyville-and
Darlington). Since there will be an interval of several years be-
tween the completion of one generating statipn at each Site and the
beginning of the construction of the "oto the lines tliit are
initially constructed need opty previdol''Or ore Isuttow, it "itch
site. Nonetheless, the Commission suepo ft Ontario "roes recaer-
rndation that it be permitted in this1* to h, * or reserve by
covenant with the landown*r tie additi rigAlr'riired
for the future 500 kV lire (page-1 ). If,`the %o#Ssion route is
adopted, the additional rfoli»of-leoy i id 15 * one 'Additional
double-circuit 5W kv. lino oetuirying ;{ t 5 -foot width for
lA riles between the Weslsyvi11# and ;j ttng stations,
The OH/CAI report *ISO'' 5 thee,: a d#� of at;proxi-
mately one rile north from 114thr thio ipeel [)lieaikt'Dafrlfag�e
Generating Stations. to a' i+l►thil iAeera tba:-e ass"14iios crdiss an
existing east-west 115 k1V )ire, the 5110.k I »per be widened
to provide for the inclusion of,.I kY'lid simwld these be re-
quired in the future to supply 1petlti for *--:Short dis-
tance, this will widen the riq%t_of-W*,_nq.rth from, the Yketieyville
Generating Station to 555 feet and frow the Oartigsgton Generating
Station to 730 feet. The-Commission also tupRorts this reeorrerdati,r
5) Ontario Hydro's guidelines for the-use of
single shaft steel poles instead of lattice t.r-,t rr
of steel poles for most, if not all, of the
Wesieyville and Darlington Generating Stat,
lines from these stations Cross Nighxay 42?
mends that these guidelines be followed and e'. t� es ae used f-
j
1
�rl,rndt (-omnui ,,ion Report
Of atout 15 miles. _ dice towers are recommended
�.r..; remanpder of the Commission route.
ion reconmends that Ontario Hydro, in conjunction with
;rr „ent agencies and appropriate public organizations, arrange
to n t up some organization with appropriate local offices along
tho route where a landowner can call and get speedy action on
complaints and difficulties.
� r
1
11 A
FART RIG'Il v
F
�1111t1
RECOMMENDED ROUTE
1-," .a
ALTERNATE ROUTE
.
RECOMMENDED
SWITCHING STATION
lift
.GENERATION STATION
ALTERNATE
K
SWITCHING STATION
Alignments ow this map art diagammata
wimilmMi11N
LINGTON CS
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STUDY AREA Am, )NOAR -
... TOWNSHIP 8C 1,10AI.V
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STUDY AREA Am, )NOAR -
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a
MAP 3
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- tiul,uuit �_Im_nI�.Iun Report
Fl�)Ljre
-
Nip. Gatineau System
Minchenbrooke)
A.,o !,uG
of F,V Lines
and Right-of-way Widths.
2/,2
HaxnenBiooke
�3
_
Stage I hoes/
/Stage II lines
2 500kVnoes 625f,t
214
3 500 kV 900 feel
2/2
4 500 kV 770 feet
1,114
Cataragui
1.413I i��iyTON GS.
WESLEVViI i E GS
LENNOX GS
BRoute
Keller Budge
42.3
Hira:henMooke
Mitis
rrae
64.3
Maching sta4on
169,
04:aa'N A: ea TS
-
15.1 -
Catwaqui
DARLINGTON GS.
WESLEYVILLE GS
-
LENN07F G'.
StTlandt ( o:nmis5ion Re r,
Figure 6
The OH/CAI System
A No. of 500 kV Lines and Hight -of -way Widths.
Fe,
' �LOgQ HIPS
Y.,
lJa.rc+nA .e
2/4
DARLINGTON GS
BRoute Miles
7;
DAHLINGTON GS
156
�Z/a
WFSLE Yyn I E GS
34
39
AESL[ Y% I[ I
2 C
AHI
Solandf Commission Rep rt _
Figure 7
The Route D System
ANo. of 500 kV Lines and Right-of-way Widths.
21//3 O.,e,
Y4
SWtlfpiny SlaL,n Z/
1:1 T/4
DARLINGTON GS WESLE YYI LIF GS 1tNNU GS
BRoute Miles
0",
DARI INGTON GS
WESLEYVII IE
Figure 8
The 401 System
A No. of 500 kV Lines and. Right-of-way Widths
Soge I Imes T 500kV Iron •425 het
bee 11 lines 3 5WkVhnn-800th
3/3
Oshawa Area. TS
2 `
3/3 �(
2/3
DARLINGTON GS WESLEYVILLE GS LENNOX GS
Oshawa A,ea IS
881
111 .
39
.144.
DART INUTOf4 GS WESLEVVIt LE GS I L% NO Gb
97