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10/06/2011 - White House names Cascade Crossing to federal pilot program

The Obama Administration announced that the Cascade Crossing Transmission Project has been identified as a Job-Creating Grid Modernization Pilot Project. The designation allows for streamlined federal permitting and increased cooperation at the federal, state, and tribal levels. The program includes projects, like Cascade Crossing, which create jobs, modernize the electric grid, and make more renewable and cost-effective energy sources available to consumers. Learn more about the federal pilot program in the White House press release.

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ABOUT THIS SITE

This project website is shared between the federal agencies (USFS and BLM), the state agency responsible for reviewing large energy facilities (ODOE-EFSC) and the project applicant (PGE), to provide a "one-stop-shop" for project information.

Use this website to learn about the project, better understand the state and federal review processes, find ways to participate, review documents and maps and get your questions answered.

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Project Description
Image of the Cascade Crossing Transmission Project proposed and alternate corridors from Boardman, Oregon to Salem, Oregon. In addition, the map shows the areas where PGE would install new conductors on subtransmission lines in the Salem area, as well as possible upgrades to its existing 230 kilovolt transmission lines in the Willamette Valley.

The Cascade Crossing Transmission Project, proposed by Portland General Electric, is subject to review and environmental analysis by state and federal agencies and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. The state review process will be conducted by the Oregon Department of Energy – Energy Facility Siting Council, and the federal review will be led by the U.S. Forest Service.

PGE proposes to:

  • Build, operate and maintain approximately 22 miles of single and 187 miles of double circuit, 500 kilovolt (kV) transmission line. The new line would cross 64 percent privately-owned lands, 20 percent lands managed by federal agencies, 14 percent lands on the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon and 2 percent state or municipal lands.
  • Build new substations and upgrade existing substations.

PGE’s purpose for this project is to help meet Oregon’s growing energy needs, enable development of more renewable energy projects and enhance reliability of the region’s electrical grid.

In addition, PGE may need to upgrade its existing transmission system in the Willamette Valley, including upgrading its 230 kV line from Salem to Oregon City and installing new conductors on existing subtransmission lines in Salem to reliably distribute the additional electricity brought to the valley by the Cascade Crossing transmission line.

Cascade Crossing is a multi-year project with three main components:

  • Planning and design - PGE will continue to refine the planning and design of Cascade Crossing throughout the process. PGE has developed preliminary routing options, submitted project permitting applications to the state and federal agencies and the CTWS, and will continue to meet with communities, landowners and other project stakeholders. PGE’s proposed and alternate corridors parallel existing transmission corridors wherever possible.
  • Permitting - ODOE-EFSC will administer the state review of PGE’s proposed project, while USFS will lead the federal agencies' review process. The CTWS will manage the permitting process across the reservation.
  • Construction - If the agencies approve the project, PGE will begin construction and expects to complete it in 2016 or 2017.