The ITC Lake Erie Connector is a proposed +/- 320 kV high-voltage, direct current (HVDC) bi-directional electric transmission line that would originate in Haldimand County, Ontario, Canada, and terminate in Erie County, Pennsylvania. The proposed project facilities would be capable of transmitting up to 1,000 megawatts (MW) of power.
The U.S. portion of the proposed project would cross the U.S.-Canada border in Lake Erie as a submerged line, buried in the lake bed, and would run approximately 35 miles before reaching the shore on private property, west of Erie Bluffs Park. From the shore, the line would be buried underground for approximately 7 miles, primarily along existing roadway rights-of-way and terminate at the proposed new Erie Convertor Station. From the Erie Converter Station, a 345 kV alternating current (AC) transmission line would run approximately 1,900 – 3,000 feet (depending on final routing) underground and connect into the U.S. grid at the existing Erie West Substation owned by Penelec. The total length of the Project would be about 72 miles, with the U.S. portion totaling about 42 miles.