PUC Approves PGE's Certificate Of Public Convenience And Necessity For Rosemont-Wilsonville Line -03/28/25

 

Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Zachariah Baker, Policy Advisor                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Date: March 28, 2025
zachariah.baker@puc.oregon.gov, (503) 510-4699

 

PUC APPROVES PGE’s CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE AND NECESSITY FOR ROSEMONT-WILSONVILLE LINE
 

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) recently approved Portland General Electric’s application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN), required when an Oregon electric utility proposes to construct an overhead transmission line that requires condemnation of private property. PGE’s request is part of its proposed construction of a 7.3-mile transmission line that would connect the Rosemont and Wilsonville substations. The line, known as the Rosemont-Wilsonville Line, is depicted in the image below.

 

Source: PGE’s CPCN Petition

 

 

Approval of the CPCN enables PGE to initiate condemnation proceedings in court to secure land rights along the proposed transmission line’s path. The CPCN demonstrates to the court that the transmission line is a public use and necessary for public convenience, which is part of what is required to condemn private property. In addition, the court, not the PUC, must make the ultimate condemnation decision, including what compensation must be given to the landowner.

 

PGE is separately seeking land use permits through the Clackamas County land use process. The CPCN does not provide land use permits and relies on a Land Use Compatibility Statement issued by Clackamas County in August 2024. If PGE is unable to obtain a land use permit and Clackamas County revokes the Land Use Compatibility Statement, the Commission may amend or revoke its CPCN decision.

 

By statute, when the PUC is presented with a petition for a CPCN, the Commission must determine after a hearing and investigation whether the transmission line has been proven to be necessary, safe, practicable, and justified in the public interest. When these criteria are met, the PUC must grant a CPCN to benefit the public interest, despite the private properties that may be impacted by its construction and operation.

 

During the PUC’s nearly yearlong proceeding to evaluate the CPCN, the Commission received and considered information from affected landowners, interest groups, utilities, and PUC Staff. This included public comments at two public hearings and written comments received from the public through the end of the proceeding. PUC Staff issued hundreds of data requests to review details of the proposal and feasible alternatives. The PUC’s Hearings Division facilitated participation in the legal proceeding by a range of stakeholders. “Our process enabled us to hear and take very seriously the concerns expressed by the local community, whether they participated as formal intervenors or through public comments,” said Commissioner Les Perkins. “I appreciate our Hearings Division’s dedication to welcoming and facilitating feedback that sharpens our focus on the issues of greatest concern.”

 

In a 40-page order, the Commission found a significant, near-term need for the Rosemont-Wilsonville line to support growth in the South Portland Metro area, including a new wastewater treatment facility. “Many valid issues were raised, but as we carried out our obligation to undertake robust scrutiny and careful weighing of the evidence and argument, we concluded that PGE provided the necessary evidence to support the application and that more process in our forum would not serve the public interest,” added Commissioner Letha Tawney. In determining that the Rosemont-Wilsonville project is in the public interest, the PUC considered several factors, including feasible alternatives for meeting the identified need; the relative importance of maintaining system reliability for a large region compared with localized impacts; PGE’s ability to construct and maintain safe operations of the line; environmental justice issues; and the overall balance of public and private benefits and costs.

 

The Commission’s order noted that, with the Clackamas County land use process still pending, PGE will have to weigh carefully whether moving forward with next steps in acquiring land rights is prudent and reasonable.

 

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The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) regulates customer rates and services of the state’s investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities, including Portland General Electric, Idaho Power, Pacific Power, Avista, Cascade Natural, and NW Natural. The PUC also regulates landline telephone providers and select water companies. The PUC’s mission is to ensure Oregonians have access to safe, reliable, and fairly priced utility services that advance state policy and promote the public interest. We use an inclusive process to evaluate differing viewpoints and visions of the public interest and arrive at balanced, well-reasoned, independent decisions supported by fact and law. For more information about the PUC, visit oregon.gov/puc.