Oct. 22, 2009

Portland, OR — Portland General Electric will hold eight open houses in the next three weeks to gather community input on a proposed transmission line in Oregon which would begin in the town of Boardman and end at the Bethel Substation east of Salem.

The schedule for the open houses, which will be from 4-8 p.m., is the following:

• Oct. 27, Stayton Stayton Community Center, 400 W. Virginia St.
• Oct. 29, Detroit Detroit City Hall, 160 Detroit Ave.
• Nov. 3, Salem  McKay High School, 2440 Lancaster Drive NE
• Nov. 5, Maupin South Wasco County High School, 699 4th St.
• Nov. 9, Arlington  Arlington High School, 1200 Main St.
• Nov. 10, Boardman  Port of Morrow, 2 Marine Dr.
• Nov. 12, Portland  Hilton Hotel, 921 SW Sixth Ave.
• Nov. 16, Moro Sherman Junior/Senior High School, 65912 High School Loop

At the open houses, PGE staff will show maps of study corridors under consideration for the new line.  The study corridors primarily follow existing transmission lines.

PGE is seeking input from property owners and others as it works to identify more specific routes within the corridors. PGE is proposing the Cascade Crossing Transmission Project to enhance reliability of the region’s electrical grid, enable development of more renewable power projects, and help meet Oregon's growing energy needs.

"In siting this project, PGE is working to minimize impacts on homes, businesses and the environment,” Mike Mikolaitis, project manager, said. “We are committed to listening to community members and considering feasible alternatives.”

Cascade Crossing would include a 200-mile, 500-kilovolt transmission line, two new substations, and upgrades to two existing substations.

PGE is early in the process of siting the line, Mikolaitis said. Following the open houses, PGE will prepare a formal application that will identify possible routes for the project. In late 2009 or early 2010, PGE expects to file applications with state, federal, and tribal authorities, who will then begin formal permitting and environmental review processes.

Selecting a final route is a key element of the permitting processes, which are expected to last up to three years and will include many opportunities for public input.

The Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council will manage the state process. A federal agency will manage the federal process under the rules of the National Environmental Policy Act. The Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs will manage a separate permitting process on tribal lands.

Everyone is invited to attend any of the open houses. For details about the project, visit www.PortlandGeneral.com/CascadeCrossing. Interested residents also can call a toll-free number and leave a voice mail at 1-877-268-2287. Voice mails will be returned by the following business day.