Segment H - West of Hemingway
Project Overview
PacifiCorp’s Energy Gateway transmission expansion investment is intended to build transmission that will better integrate its East and West control areas. Building a line west into Oregon from the Hemingway substation area in western Idaho will increase system flexibility and reliability to serve customers. While originally proposed as an approximately 375-mile, single-circuit 500-kilovolt transmission line from the Hemingway substation to a substation near Klamath Falls, Oregon, PacifiCorp is pursuing joint development opportunities with regional entities on alternatives to this proposed configuration. To that end, in January 2012, PacifiCorp signed a permitting agreement with Idaho Power and the Bonneville Power Administration on the proposed Boardman to Hemingway line, and continues to discuss with Portland General Electric opportunities on the proposed Cascade Crossing project.
Project Timeline
This line segment is being considered among alternative projects planned for the region. This project, or its alternatives, will be brought into service as soon as appropriate for PacifiCorp customers. For more information on the alternatives under consideration, please refer to the project websites for Idaho Power’s Boardman to Hemingway project and Portland General Electric’s Cascade Crossing project.
Additional Information About the Project
The proposed Boardman to Hemingway transmission line is an approximately 300-mile, 500-kilovolt line that would run from a new substation proposed near Boardman, Oregon, to Idaho Power’s recently completed Hemingway substation near Melba, Idaho, southwest of Boise, Idaho. The agreement provides funding for environmental review and permitting, ensuring continued consideration of the project. Portland General Electric announced changes in January 2013 to its 500-kilovolt Cascade Crossing transmission line, which is now planned to run approximately 122 miles from the proposed new Grasslands substation near Boardman, Oregon to a proposed new Pine Grove substation near Maupin, Oregon. PacifiCorp continues to discuss opportunities with Portland General Electric to participate in the Cascade Crossing project.
PacifiCorp’s Hemingway to Captain Jack line will remain under consideration as these joint development alternatives mature.
Public input is a very important part of this process, and the company is eager to involve the public in all stages of this transmission line development. Please check this website periodically for additional information about these proposed transmission lines as the projects progress and details are developed.
(Updated May 9, 2013)
