Transmission

Demand for electricity is rising for reasons including electrification, clean energy policies, and increasingly large loads such as data centers.  With that electricity demand comes the need for more transmission.

The Northwest relies on approximately 20,000 miles of high-voltage transmission, 75% of which is operated by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), and the rest of which is primarily operated by other individual utilities. Much of the high-voltage transmission in the Northwest was constructed in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, which once provided the region with ample capacity to accommodate power generation and demand. After four decades of limited new construction, existing transmission has reached its limit for interconnecting new resources and serving ever-growing demand.

CETI is exploring transmission through several projects, including past work in the Net-Zero Northwest study, ongoing participation in the Western Transmission Expansion Committee (WestTEC) initiative, and a Washington-focused transmission needs assessment with support from the Stolte Family Foundation.

In addition to the project pages below, No Transition Without Transmission provides additional context on the state of transmission in the Northwest's clean energy transition.