Role and Responsibility

The Cascade Crossing Transmission Project (Cascade Crossing) is proposed by Portland General Electric (PGE). To build new energy facilities in Oregon, PGE must apply for an Energy Facility Site Certificate from the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC). The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) administers the Site Certificate process and leads the state review.

The Oregon Department of Energy and Energy Facility Siting Council are responsible for determining whether PGE’s application meets the state’s energy facility siting process requirements.

• What is the Energy Facility Siting Council? EFSC is a seven-person citizen board responsible for approving or denying energy facility site applications, as well as setting energy facility siting policy and regulations.
• What is the Oregon Department of Energy? ODOE is the state agency responsible for ensuring Oregon has an adequate supply of reliable and affordable energy and is safe from nuclear contamination.

Oregon Public Utility Commission

The Oregon Public Utility Commission conducts a separate review of PGE's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which is the utility's plan for meeting its customers' future demands. PGE has included Cascade Crossing as one element of its IRP currently under review by the OPUC.

One of the ways PGE can meet the EFSC's Need for Facility Standard is through OPUC acknowledgement of PGE's IRP. The OPUC Integrated Resource Plan review includes opportunities for public comment. For more information, visit OPUC’s PGE IRP review page.