Powerline Plans Advance in Southwest, Lag in Northwest

Puget Sound Energy (PSE), in Washington state, which was to be one of the largest customers of the Central Ferry-Lower Monumental line, has changed plans to build out its Lower Snake River wind farm. Because of lower load growth and conservation in the state, the first phase of the wind farm will provide the utility with enough renewable energy to meet that state's 2016 renewable portfolio standards, says Roger Thompson, a spokesman for PSE.

If BPA determines the Central Ferry-Lower Monumental line is still needed, BPA spokesman Doug Johnson said the agency would re-issue the request for proposal for pre-construction work, including roads, and the line could still be in operation, as originally planned, by 2013.

The future of the other four lines will be determined after BPA reshuffles requests from developers await-ing transmission service to determine whether new lines are still needed.

Pam Radtke Russell is a New Orleans-based journalist with more than a decade covering energy, environment and climate for ENR, Platts, CQ Roll Call in Washington D.C. and the Times-Picayune in New Orleans.