Bonneville Power Administration
10/15/2024 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/15/2024 15:40
BPA maintains transmission expansion momentum with 13 new proposed projects
arrowBack to Newsroom
BPA maintains transmission expansion momentum with 13 new proposed projects
October 15, 2024
BPA has identified 13 new transmission substation and line projects necessary to reinforce the Pacific Northwest's electric grid.
BPA has identified 13 new transmission substation and line projects necessary to reinforce the Pacific Northwest's electric grid.
wave
With historic levels of high demand growth projected across the region in the years to come, the 13 transmission projects being announced today by BPA represent a big step forward on system capacity and reliability. The result should be a lasting benefit to BPA's customers and to the energy consumers of the Pacific Northwest more generally.
DOE Infrastructure Under Secretary David Crane
BPA has identified 13 new transmission substation and line projects necessary to reinforce the Pacific Northwest's electric grid. If constructed, these projects would accommodate regional load growth and enable BPA to add thousands of megawatts of new wind and solar generation and battery storage to the federal grid. Combined, the projects are estimated to cost approximately $3 billion. Each project must undergo preliminary engineering and environmental review to inform a final decision to construct.
"BPA continues to answer the call to meet the region's transmission needs driven by electrification, clean energy goals and growing energy demand," said Administrator and CEO John Hairston. "Consistent, steady energy infrastructure investments such as these will help the region maintain reliability and a strong economy fueled by clean energy. This work would not be possible without the $10 billion increase in Treasury borrowing authority championed by the Northwest Congressional delegation."
Congress included the $10 billion increase in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, raising BPA's borrowing authority with the U.S. Treasury to $17.7 billion. Borrowing authority works like a revolving line of credit and is the agency's primary source of debt financing for capital investments, including transmission.
"With historic levels of high demand growth projected across the region in the years to come, the 13 transmission projects being announced today by BPA represent a big step forward on system capacity and reliability. The result should be a lasting benefit to BPA's customers and to the energy consumers of the Pacific Northwest more generally," said DOE Infrastructure Under Secretary David Crane.
These new transmission projects emerged from BPA's Transmission Service Request Study and Expansion Process 2023 cluster study. These proposed projects are in the early stages of development. Over the next year, they will undergo scoping and then move to preliminary engineering.
"Renewable Northwest is excited to see the advancement of new investments by the Bonneville Power Administration in transmission infrastructure," said Nicole Hughes, executive director, Renewable Northwest. "These investments will help bring much needed clean energy to customers throughout the region. We are eager to work with Bonneville to see these projects completed."
This new set of projects will not slow BPA's progress on the other proposed projects BPA announced in July 2023. BPA is now working on more than 20 proposed expansion projects with an estimated cost of approximately $5 billion.
"BPA's commitment to sustaining reliable electric service and meeting the growing needs of our existing customers remains a priority," said Richard Shaheen, senior vice president of Transmission Services. "We are strategically deploying capital to ensure we meet our customers' growing needs on many fronts."
In addition, for fiscal year 2025, BPA has approved a budget of $590 million for grid reinforcements to maintain reliability and preserve existing transmission lines, substations and other equipment. This is a substantial increase from BPA's FY 2024 budget of $377 million for needed replacements to sustain the reliability and resilience of the federal transmission system.
"These projects advance our efforts to provide reliable service to our customers and keep pace with requests for transmission service," said Jeff Cook, vice president, Transmission Service Planning and Asset Management. "We expect these projects will enable transmission service for network and point-to-point needs yet to be studied."
Project summaries and maps are available on BPA's Transmission Business Model webpage under Evolving Grid. BPA will host a public meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17 to discuss the projects.
Congress included the $10 billion increase in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, raising BPA's borrowing authority with the U.S. Treasury to $17.7 billion. Borrowing authority works like a revolving line of credit and is the agency's primary source of debt financing for capital investments, including transmission.
"With historic levels of high demand growth projected across the region in the years to come, the 13 transmission projects being announced today by BPA represent a big step forward on system capacity and reliability. The result should be a lasting benefit to BPA's customers and to the energy consumers of the Pacific Northwest more generally," said DOE Infrastructure Under Secretary David Crane.
These new transmission projects emerged from BPA's Transmission Service Request Study and Expansion Process 2023 cluster study. These proposed projects are in the early stages of development. Over the next year, they will undergo scoping and then move to preliminary engineering.
"Renewable Northwest is excited to see the advancement of new investments by the Bonneville Power Administration in transmission infrastructure," said Nicole Hughes, executive director, Renewable Northwest. "These investments will help bring much needed clean energy to customers throughout the region. We are eager to work with Bonneville to see these projects completed."
This new set of projects will not slow BPA's progress on the other proposed projects BPA announced in July 2023. BPA is now working on more than 20 proposed expansion projects with an estimated cost of approximately $5 billion.
"BPA's commitment to sustaining reliable electric service and meeting the growing needs of our existing customers remains a priority," said Richard Shaheen, senior vice president of Transmission Services. "We are strategically deploying capital to ensure we meet our customers' growing needs on many fronts."
In addition, for fiscal year 2025, BPA has approved a budget of $590 million for grid reinforcements to maintain reliability and preserve existing transmission lines, substations and other equipment. This is a substantial increase from BPA's FY 2024 budget of $377 million for needed replacements to sustain the reliability and resilience of the federal transmission system.
"These projects advance our efforts to provide reliable service to our customers and keep pace with requests for transmission service," said Jeff Cook, vice president, Transmission Service Planning and Asset Management. "We expect these projects will enable transmission service for network and point-to-point needs yet to be studied."
Project summaries and maps are available on BPA's Transmission Business Model webpage under Evolving Grid. BPA will host a public meeting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 17 to discuss the projects.
Tags
About Transmission
social_facebook Share social_twitter Tweet email Email print Print