BPA BUILDING WIRES

Transmission Overhaul: BPA's Upgrades To Allow 1.9 GW Of Wind
22 June 2011 (Renew Grid)

"The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) has proposed two transmission-line upgrades in Washington and Montana that, with four new high-voltage lines already under construction or consideration, would deliver an additional 3.2 GW of electricity, including 1.9 GW of wind power…The two new projects are the result of BPA's Network Open Season, a process designed to better gauge demand for new transmission..

"The first project - the Northern Intertie Reinforcements - would combine substation, line and other equipment upgrades to increase capacity on BPA's interconnection with Canada. This effort includes a proposed transmission project involving Puget Sound Energy."


Get it done! From BonnevillePower via YouTube

"The second project - the Colstrip Upgrade Project - would combine system upgrades in order to increase transmission capacity in eastern Washington and Montana. According to BPA, this project will allow wind resources from Montana [which are strong when Washington winds are slow] to be delivered into the Northwest grid. This project needs to be coordinated with a project planned by NorthWestern Energy to upgrade the Colstrip Transmission System further into Montana...

"BPA will now complete preliminary engineering and an environmental review of the projects, which could take one to two years. After these processes are completed, BPA will decide whether to proceed…"