Enhancements to the Bethel-Round Butte
transmission line will advance Tribal energy leadership, improve
reliability, and accelerate decarbonization in Oregon
WARM
SPRINGS, Ore., Oct. 18,
2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Confederated Tribes of the
Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon
(CTWS) was selected to receive a $250
million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to help
advance vital transmission upgrades. CTWS submitted the grant
application to DOE, in partnership with Portland General Electric,
as part of the Grid Resilience Innovative Partnerships Program
(GRIP) open to Tribes. This significant investment in the
reliability of Oregon's clean
energy infrastructure will enable enhancements to the existing 230
kV Bethel-Round Butte transmission line – a crucial artery in the
region's transmission system – connecting resources west of the
Cascades, including on the Warm Springs Reservation, to customers
in the Willamette Valley.
This innovative project will unlock a multitude of opportunities
for the Tribes. New transmission capacity on the Warm Springs
Reservation will enable the development of renewable
infrastructure, accommodate new industrial development, create
clean energy job opportunities, and bring revenue to historically
underserved communities.
"This is a tremendous opportunity that will open the potential
for renewable energy development on the CTWS Reservation to the
economic benefit of the tribe and its membership," said CTWS Tribal
Chairman Jonathan Smith. "Upgrading
the Bethel-Round Butte transmission line would serve to unlock
access to renewable resources east of the Cascades to serve growing
loads both east and west of the Cascades — and it further
complements the long-standing partnership CTWS and PGE have had in
the Pelton-Round Butte Hydroelectric Project."
Increasing the line's capacity will also improve reliability and
help meet growing electrical demand from customers in PGE's service
area, which contains about half of Oregon's population and two thirds of the
state's commercial and industrial activity. Leveraging this grant,
in addition to other federal funding opportunities, helps PGE
manage customer costs while investing in resiliency and regional
resource adequacy.
"Expanding transmission capacity is essential to keeping power
reliable and affordable during the transition to a clean energy
future," said Maria Pope, PGE
President and CEO. "PGE is honored to deepen our relationship with
the Confederated Tribes of Warm
Springs through this mutually beneficial partnership."
The Bethel-Round Butte transmission line was built in the 1960s
in service to this valued partnership, delivering output from the
Pelton-Round Butte hydropower facility to PGE customers. CTWS and
PGE have been partners in this project, a certified low-impact
hydro facility on the Deschutes River, since 2001, and look forward
to continued collaboration.
Receiving the DOE grant is an exciting first step in a lengthy
process that includes environmental and scoping studies, design,
permitting and construction. Throughout the process, CTWS and PGE
will work closely with partners, landowners, and other
jurisdictions to make this project a reality.
Learn more: Biden-Harris Administration Announces
$3.5 Billion for Largest Ever
Investment in America's Electric Grid, Deploying More Clean Energy,
Lowering Costs, and Creating Union Jobs
About the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs:
The Confederated Tribes of Warm
Springs, Oregon, is based in Central Oregon with a membership of over 5,000
Tribal Members from the Warm
Springs, Wasco, and Paiute
tribes. Learn more at warmsprings-nsn.gov
www.warmsprings-nsn.gov.
About Portland General Electric Company:
Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is a fully integrated
energy company that that generates, transmits and distributes
electricity to over 900,000 customers in 51 cities across the state
of Oregon. For more than 130
years, Portland General Electric (PGE) has powered the advancement
of society, delivering safe, affordable, reliable and increasingly
clean energy. To deliver on its strategy and meet state targets,
PGE and its approximately 3,000 employees are committed to
partnering with stakeholders to achieve at least an 80% reduction
in greenhouse gas emissions from power served to customers by 2030
and 100% reduction by 2040. PGE customers set the standard for
prioritizing clean energy with the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy
program in the country. Additionally, for the fifth year in a row,
PGE was recognized by the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index which
highlights companies committed to creating a more equal and
inclusive workplace. As a reflection of the company's commitment to
the community it serves, in 2022, PGE employees, retirees and the
PGE Foundation donated nearly $5.5
million and volunteered more than 18,000 hours with more
than 400 nonprofits across Oregon.
For more information visit www.PortlandGeneral.com/news.
SOURCE: Portland General Company (POR)
CONTACTS:
Cathy Ehli, Warm Springs Power &
Water Enterprises
Cathy.Ehli@wspower.com
Allison Dobscha, Portland General
Electric Company
Allison.Dobscha@pgn.com
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SOURCE Portland General Company
