- Image by Getty Images via Daylife
The Bonneville Power Administration is proposing construction of a new 500-kilovolt transmission line to meet increasing demands for electricity along Washington and Oregon’s I-5 corridor. The line would meet growing local and regional energy demands and help bolster the BPA transmission system to accommodate energy deliveries, including wind power. The proposed line, known as the I-5 Corridor Reinforcement Project, would run between a new substation in the Castle Rock area of Washington and a new substation in Troutdale, Ore.
“BPA is committed to meeting local and regional power needs while ensuring a reliable and stable transmission system,” said Steve Wright, BPA administrator. “The region is growing and so is our need for energy, including green energy such as wind. This line would serve both of those needs.”
The transmission system in southwest Washington and northwest Oregon is heavily used and is approaching its capacity as power production and electricity consumption increase. This increased congestion combined with pending requests for firm transmission service and new patterns of electricity use make consideration of the system reinforcement necessary.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=037d4257-265c-43fa-9edb-cad68d1dc41b)
on Nov 12th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
My understanding is that there are several optional routes. One runs through populated areas, including the town of Hockinson, near our school and right across a 35 acre piece of property our school district has purchased for future expansion.
The other options are to expand use of an existing line, or run through an alternate location, to the east, which is not as populated.
Naturally, we are hearing the other two options are more expensive, but here the residents of Hockinson, and most importantly our school children are paying the tab.
Here is the link to the proposal map. Leg 31 is the option that will place this 500 kilowatt transmission line in my backyard and impact my children’s school.
http://www.bpa.gov/corporate/i-5-eis/I-5_project_map_Oct2009.pdf
I have no issue with the need for this power project. This is not your run of the mill transmission line. This is MASSIVE. This is no minor inconvenience, this will dramatically alter our town.
on Dec 2nd, 2009 at 9:50 am
This line will destroy important green areas. It is the highest possible voltage. On my property alone their is a 600 year old fir snag older than the Declaration of Independence, full of plant and animal life and important unstudied life. You cannot eat a computer or cell phone. You cannot gain health care from them either. You can see what we could lose on my blogspot. http://www.highwoodsheaven.blogspot.com
Best Wishes,
Erin
on Dec 15th, 2009 at 9:48 am
If this goes right up our roads, are we actually supposed to live with it? We paid a lot to live in the Hockinson area and have our children attend these schools.
If this project goes through our children we will pull our children out of the schools and we aren’t the only ones. Bad enough we’ll have to give our homes to the banks now.
on Dec 15th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Hockinson is a nice area, one of the few left in SW WA. Castle Rock is already ghetto so it won’t hurt them as much, but to destroy one of the nicest areas of Clark County, not to mention one of the top rated school districts in the state….
on Dec 19th, 2009 at 5:04 pm
Clearly a move to do this on the cheap by Bonneville Power. It’s hard to believe they can’t find a better route than the one that mows down Hockinson. Schools, homes, businesses, unique wildlife and recreation areas? I can’t imagine that’s going to be allowed without a big fight.