(PORTLAND, OR) -- At 4:33 PM Tuesday, the Bonneville Power Administration energized and brought into service a new 500-kilovolt transmission line in southeastern Washington.
The 38-mile, single-circuit line connects BPA’s Central Ferry Substation near the Port of Central Ferry in Garfield County, Wash., to BPA’s Lower Monumental Substation in Walla Walla County. The line increases the electrical capacity of BPA’s transmission system in response to requests for transmission service in this area.
“Energizing a project of this size and magnitude requires substantial work across our transmission organization,” said Chad Hamel, the project manager for the new line. “Our talented people in Field Services, planning, engineering, contracting and construction management, environmental and cultural compliance, real estate and dozens of others behind the scenes made this project seamless.
“The final step of bringing the line into service went smoothly and as planned, which is a testament to the hard work and preparation by the entire project team.”
Construction on the Central Ferry-Lower Monumental line began in May 2014, following an extensive environmental review and public engagement process.
Later this month, BPA anticipates energizing another 500-kilovolt line in north-central Oregon and south-central Washington. The 28-mile Big Eddy-Knight line will connect the Big Eddy Substation in The Dalles, Ore., to Knight Substation near Goldendale, Wash.
The two projects – Central Ferry-Lower Monumental and Big Eddy-Knight – will bolster system reliability and enable BPA to carry a significant amount of new generating resources, including wind, to population centers in western Oregon and Washington.
BPA operates three-fourths of the high-voltage transmission lines in the Northwest with more than 15,000 circuit miles. Consistent with its Open Access Transmission Tariff, BPA has an obligation to ensure sufficient capability to serve its customers through a safe and reliable transmission system.
