Options PGE proposes in preliminary state application

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 215 miles of 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 four 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.

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 most of the way.
• 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 in 2014 and expects to complete it in late 2016 or early 2017.