Developers are thinking about building a new transmission line to help meet the Northwest’s energy needs. However, this one would be different from what you’re imagining.
This high-voltage transmission line would run under the Columbia River.
Developers said the region urgently needs new transmission. There aren’t enough ways to get energy from eastern Washington and Oregon to more populated areas on the west, they said. Above-ground transmission lines pose challenges, like vulnerabilities to extreme weather and wildfires.
“ Despite the potential for large-scale wind and solar east of the Cascades, much more east-west transmission to reach western load centers would be needed before most of these resources could successfully be built,” said Chris Hocker, with Cascade Renewable Transmission. The company is made up of a group of private companies that came together to build the transmission line…