Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Canada/Pacific Northwest to Northern California Transmission Project?
A: It is a high voltage electric transmission project that will transport up to 3,000 megawatts (MW) of power from new, renewable resources in Canada and the Pacific Northwest to northern California.
Q: What are the main benefits of the Project?
A: The main benefits of the proposed line are:
- to enhance access to significant incremental renewable resources in Canada and the Pacific Northwest;
- to improve regional transmission reliability; and
- to provide utilities throughout western North America with opportunities to use the facilities.
Q: Why is the Project necessary?
A: The Project will provide electric utilities with access to renewable resources and assist with the reduction of greenhouse gases. It will also increase the reliability of electric services provided to millions of customers in western North America, including reducing congestion on existing transmission facilities. Increasing the amount of renewable energy in the portfolio of electricity resources serving a state or country puts the electric industry on a path toward sustainability.
Q: How much will the Project cost?
A: The total estimated cost of the Project is $3-7 billion. Local transmission system upgrades will also be required.
Q: What impact will the Project have on rates?
A: Project cost allocations have not yet been determined.
Q: What entities are sponsoring the Project?
A: PG&E, Avista, BCTC, and PacifiCorp.
Q: When will the construction of the transmission line begin?
A: Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2012 and last until the later part of 2015.
Q: What states will the transmission line be located in?
A: Washington, Oregon and California.
Q: Please provide a conceptual project description.
A: The conceptual plan of service is a line of approximately 1,000 miles from Selkirk Substation in southeast British Columbia to the Tesla/Tracy substations in northern California. This includes:
- Alternating current (AC) facilities from Selkirk to Devil's Gap substation in the Spokane area to a newNorth-East Oregon substation called NEO Station.
- DC facilities from NEO Station to Collinsville with a possible third terminal at Cottonwood substation.
- AC facilities from Collinsville to Tracy.
- Voltage support at the interconnecting substations.
- Remedial actions - tripping of generation scheduled on the project for outages of the project facilities.
Q: How can I get more information?
A: email us at WECCprocessinfo@pge.com.
Additional Info
