Senator Murray Pushes BPA Administrator to Consider Impact Transmission Lines Will Have on Southwest Washington

(Washington,
D.C.) –Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate
Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, met with Bonneville Power
Administration (BPA) Administrator Steve Wright and urged him to carefully
examine route locations for the new electric transmission lines in the proposed
I-5 Corridor Reinforcement Project to make sure the impact to Southwest
Washington is minimized. Murray stressed the need for Wright to continue
engaging with the local communities before making decisions about the location
of new transmission lines.

“Keeping
energy rates low is a priority for me, and for families across Washington
state, and I support BPA’s efforts to expand its transmission infrastructure to
ensure that our rapidly growing communities will have low rates for many more
years. However, BPA must take the concerns of local residents seriously as it
moves forward,” said
Senator Murray. “That’s why I’ve continued to push Mr. Wright to engage
local communities and to take into consideration how these transmission lines
will impact Southwestern Washington. During our meeting today, Mr. Wright
acknowledged the importance of regional concerns and I will continue work with
BPA to ensure that the interests of Southwestern Washington are considered with
regard to this proposed project.”

In July,
Senator
Murray sent a letter to BPA Administrator Steve Wright urging them to consider
Southwest Washington interests when designing routes for the new transmission
lines.