New transmission essential for Oregon’s renewable energy standard

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Oregon has adopted one of the nation’s most aggressive renewable standards, requiring that by 2025, 25 percent of the electricity generated by investor-owned utilities like PGE and Pacific Power will come from renewable resources. From the beginning, PGE has supported this standard because we know it reflects our customers’ values. After all, more customers have signed on for renewable power options than any other utility in the nation. Our goal is to implement the standard in a way that is affordable for our customers and does not threaten the reliability of our electrical system.

Utilities will need to make critical investments in the coming years both to achieve these standards and to meet our customers’ growing demand for electricity. These and other factors influence our decisions about whether to build or buy more wind and solar projects, refurbish an existing hydroelectric project or build a new gas plant.

One investment that may be less obvious but is just as critical to meeting this standard is the need to increase transmission capacity. Although the Pacific Northwest has seen significant growth in population and industry in the last 25 years, no major transmission projects have been built in Oregon to reinforce the grid. As a result, the transmission system is nearing capacity. This problem, if left unaddressed, could impact electrical reliability for businesses, farms and homes throughout the state.

What’s more, additional transmission capacity is needed to move electricity from renewable-rich regions like Central and Eastern Oregon to the more populated areas of the Willamette Valley. Many of the wind farms proposed east of the Cascades are not currently served by transmission. Without additional transmission capacity, we may not be able to deliver these renewable resources to our customers. In addition, existing wind generation may have to be curtailed if transmission constraints are not addressed.

To respond to this need, PGE has filed initial applications with the state and federal governments to build the Cascade Crossing Transmission Project, which includes a 210-mile high-voltage transmission line running from Boardman Oregon, through Central Oregon to the Salem area. Pacific Power recently signed on as a potential partner on this project, and we expect others may join in as well. PGE has already received requests from four major wind projects to connect to Cascade Crossing.

While we know this project is needed, we recognize the challenges of siting a high-voltage transmission line through farmland, national forest land and the reservation of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs. PGE has identified a study corridor wider than the actual right of way that would need to be acquired. This study corridor parallels existing transmission corridors most of the way.

Last fall, we held a series of open houses along the study corridor to identify concerns of landowners and other stakeholders. More recently, the U.S. Forest Service and the Oregon Department of Energy held a series of scoping meetings to solicit formal comments on the project. We will use feedback from PGE’s open houses and formal comments submitted to government agencies to guide us as we develop a more specific route.

The government permitting processes are expected to last three years, with many opportunities for public input. The state and federal governments and PGE are hosting a joint website designed to provide more information and solicit public feedback on the project: www.cascadecrossingproject.com. I encourage anyone interested in this project to log on, learn more, provide feedback, and attend meetings in your area to help shape the policies and decisions on this important project for Oregon’s energy future.

Steve Hawke is Portland General Electric’s senior vice president for customer service, transmission and distribution.