PGE's proposed Cascade Crossing Project

At the Pine Grove substation, the project would connect to the existing transmission grid to bring electricity to customers west of the Cascade Mountains.

Portland General Electric (PGE) has proposed the Cascade Crossing Transmission Project (Cascade Crossing) to help meet Oregon’s growing energy needs, encourage development of more renewable energy projects and maintain reliability of the region’s electrical grid.

In 2009, PGE first proposed to build a 215-mile transmission project from Boardman to Salem. As the result of a Memorandum of Understanding reached in January 2013 with the Bonneville Power Administration, PGE now proposes to build a shorter line from Boardman to a new Pine Grove substation PGE would build about 18 miles southwest of Maupin. At that point, the project would connect to the existing transmission grid to bring electricity to PGE customers in the Willamette Valley.

Permitting of the project involves review and environmental analysis by local, state and federal agencies and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (CTWS). The State’s review process is being administered by the Oregon Department of Energy and the federal review is currently being led by the U.S. Forest Service.

PGE intends to amend its applications to the state and federal agencies, seeking permits to:

• build a 122-mile, 500 kilovolt line from Boardman to the Pine Grove substation;
• site up to four substations, including Pine Grove, that could be built by PGE or by its transmission customers.