By : Matthew Elder.
Hydro-Québec has announced it will build a new 120-kilovolt (kV) substation south of West Brome near the intersection if Route 139 and Durkee Road. The installation will be connected to the Cowansville substation via a new 120 kV line through forest and farmland, identified on Hydro’s study maps as Route C that circles to the southwest before turning east and crossing Route 202 midway between Cowansville and Dunham.
The new substation will serve Brome Lake, Brome Village, Sutton and surrounding areas. Existing 49 kV substations in Knowlton, Sutton and Eastman will be dismantled.
The project is part of a broader infrastructure upgrade in this part of the Eastern Townships that will see five 49 kV substations replaced my two 120 kV installations. Approximately 100 km of major transmission lines, some of which are nearly a century old, will be replaced by 25 km of lines.
Hydro is to unveil final plans this fall, with construction to begin next year and the new network up and running in 2028.
Route Selection Debate
Hydro said Route C was selected because it would minimize obstruction of Cowansville development, better integrate into the natural landscape and not share terrain with a natural gas pipeline.
Mayors in area municipalities, including Lee Patterson of Brome Lake, favoured a different route, dubbed Route D, that followed Routes 104 and 139 to the new substation site. While the electricity infrastructure update is badly needed, Patterson said he had hoped Hydro would listen to the concerns of local authorities and residents.
“The idea behind a “D” route … is to use an existing transportation corridor that has minimal impact on agricultural land,” he told Tempo in an interview in mid-June.
As for delivering electricity from the new substation to Lac-Brome, Patterson said this would involve a system of feeder lines, so there would be no large towers involved. And portions of these lines may be run underground.”
Future of the Knowlton Substation Site
Once the current Knowlton substation is removed, likely between 2028 and 2030, Patterson is confident this land will be turned over to the town.
“The protocol is Hydro first must consult with other provincial government departments to see of the land is needed for their purposes.” If not, then the land would be transferred over to the Town of Brome Lake for use as it sees fit. There would be no acquisition price, the mayor said.
“We have already applied to Hydro to take over this land,” he said. “Our plan would be to use it to support commercial development, providing a corridor through to the farmer’s market on Maple Street. There are a number of possibilities. Part of the area could be used to for public parking.”
Opposition Continues
Meantime, opponents to Hydro’s decision will continue to press for a route change and more transparency.
“Time will tell” if any changes are possible, said Denise Beamish, a spokesperson for Exigeons+, a citizen’s group that has been vocal in its opposition to Hydro’s proposed routes.
“As we have done these past 18 months, we will carry on our work with the mayors, the MRC, and the citizens of Brome-Missisquoi to hold Hydro to account.”