Permitting Process Pushes Back Boardman-Hemingway Transmission Line Construction by Two Years

Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Construction of the 500-kilovolt (kV) Boardman-Hemingway Transmission Line from Oregon to Idaho has been pushed back at least two years, due to permitting and regulatory issues. The 300-mile, overhead, single-circuit transmission line is part of the Energy Gateway Project.

The line will be constructed from a proposed 500-kV Idaho Power (Boise, Idaho) substation in Boardman, Oregon, to Idaho Power's existing Hemingway Substation in Melba, Idaho.

Originally, construction of the line was scheduled to begin in 2015. Permitting and regulatory issues have pushed the start time out to 2017, or even 2018.

The permitting process can take years when a line crosses state boundaries and involves multiple developers. The permitting process includes consideration of economic factors and environmental and social issues.

However, the U.S. Department of Energy is fast-tracking the Boardman-Hemingway Line project. Tetra Tech Incorporated (NASDAQ:TTEK) (Boise) is serving as environmental consultant for the project.

In 2012, PacifiCorp (Portland, Oregon) and Bonneville Power Administration (Portland) joined the project. PacifiCorp will pay 54.55% of the permitting cost, Bonneville Power Administration will pay 24.24%, and Idaho Power will pay 21.21%.

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