Public Power Underground BONUS: 3Ps of transmission in the West
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Aug 7, 2023 
Join Adam Richins, COO of Idaho Power, Christina Hayes, Executive Director of Americans for a Clean Energy Grid, and Pam Sporborg, Director of Transmission for Portland General Electric, as they dive into the tangled world of energy transmission. They share horror stories from the challenging Boardman to Hemmingway project, discuss the essential '3Ps'—Planning, Permitting, and Paying-for—and reveal the cultural significance of energy policy in the West. With humor and insights, they highlight the urgent need for regulatory reform to achieve clean energy goals.
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Northwest's Unique Transmission Rules
- Non-jurisdictional utilities in the Northwest operate under different transmission planning and tariff rules than in other US regions.
- Reciprocal tariff agreements are less common in the Northwest due to the large presence of non-jurisdictional utilities like BPA.
Transmission Permitting as a Dr. Seuss Animal
- Adam Richins describes transmission permitting complexity as a "Dr. Seuss" kind of animal with many agencies involved.
- The process is highly complicated due to overlapping federal and state agency regulations and requirements.
B2H's 17-Year Permitting Odyssey
- The Boardman to Hemingway (B2H) transmission project took 17 years from planning to near construction without groundbreaking.
- The lengthy permitting process involved multiple agencies and lawsuits, causing significant delays and financial risks.