This multi-part series focuses on efforts to modernize and improve the electricity grid in the Pacific Northwest. A modern grid is essential for interconnecting clean energy resources, powering our communities and economy, and meeting our region’s 100% clean energy goals. While there are political, technical, and financial challenges in achieving a grid that fully unlocks our clean energy transition, the work detailed in this blog illustrates areas of opportunity and progress.

Building the grid we need to power our future starts with smart planning. Transmission planning is the process of identifying actions to improve and modernize the grid, including Grid Enhancing Technologies (GETs), co-located transmission lines (in existing rights-of-way, such as highways), and, when necessary, new transmission lines. This ensures that energy can be reliably and affordably delivered to homes and businesses. Planning is foundational to building a cleaner, more affordable, and more resilient energy system. Because Oregon’s grid is deeply interconnected with neighboring states, transmission planning requires both state and regional coordination. 

Most US states have an electricity grid that is connected to neighboring states. In fact, Texas is the only state in the contiguous US with an isolated grid. Because electricity flows across state lines, transmission planning is inherently regional. Regional grid configurations can take many forms. In much of the country, this planning is coordinated through a Regional Transmission Organization (RTO). RTOs are independent grid operators that facilitate grid access, plan transmission expansion, and balance supply and demand efficiently. Importantly, RTOs are not themselves subject to clean energy mandates, but rather are obligated to plan for supplying clean energy where mandated by member states. 

The Pacific Northwest is not yet part of an RTO. However, conversations are actively underway in the West about whether and how to form a day-ahead market, which coordinates energy transactions 24 hours in advance, and potentially helps utilities procure more clean energy. Today, we have the Western Energy Imbalance Market (WEIM), which enables real-time balancing of supply and demand, leveraging the diverse resources in the region. While WEIM improves operational efficiency, it does not perform the kind of long-term regional transmission planning that an RTO would. As a result, states, utilities, grid operators, and other regional entities in the West are advancing transmission planning through a patchwork of other forums and processes. Below, we lay out some processes underway that are supporting regional transmission planning in the West. These efforts are helping lay the groundwork for a more coordinated regional grid and are critical to expanding transmission capacity, improving reliability, and connecting new renewable energy resources needed to power Oregon and the region.

Looking Ahead: WestTEC’s 10-year Transmission Study

The Western Transmission Expansion Coalition (WestTEC) is a regional partnership made up of the energy industry, States and Tribes, environmental groups, and project developers. The Coalition’s task is to address interregional transmission needs across the West. Toward that end, WestTEC published in the 10-year Horizon Report in February 2026. The study identified a need for over 12,600 miles of high-voltage transmission upgrades by 2035 to support a 75% increase in renewable energy resources. Importantly, WestTEC does not build transmission, but rather provides the study as a resource for transmission developers.

BPA’s Role: The Grid Expansion and Reliability Project

Closer to our backyard, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) plays a central role in Oregon’s electric grid. BPA operates hydropower resources and owns more than 75% of the transmission system serving the Pacific Northwest. Through its Grid Expansion and Reliability Project (GERP), BPA has identified 20 new transmission lines and substation projects totaling over $5 billion. GERP projects will help integrate renewable energy, boost reliability, and meet rising demand. But GERP is only one part of BPA’s transmission role. As the region’s primary transmission planner and gatekeeper, BPA’s planning rules and transmission access decisions will play a major role in determining the pace and cost of the Northwest’s clean energy transition.

Identifying Transmission Corridors in Oregon

Recognizing the need to urgently expand Oregon’s grid, Governor Kotek included transmission corridor identification and designation in Executive Order 25-29 last year. This provision of the Executive Order tasks the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) with developing a framework to accelerate corridor identification, permitting, and financial support for transmission upgrades in Oregon.

Capturing Plains Wind: Montana Regional Transmission Connectivity Study

A coalition of clean energy and transmission advocates, including Climate Solutions, produced a 2025 study investigating routes for a transmission line to deliver Montana wind to the PNW. The study analyzes potential pathways for delivering as much as 12,000 MW of new wind energy from Montana to the grid by 2035, while minimizing impacts on people and landscapes. 

Tying It All Together: From Planning to Action

Although these plans and studies are undertaken by separate entities, there is substantial overlap in their application. For example, 67% of the transmission actions identified by WestTEC are already in the development pipeline. The critical next step is to ensure the financing and permitting processes are in place to turn the plans into action and to enable the interconnection of significant renewable energy resources. Continued progress toward stronger regional coordination, including the potential development of a West-wide RTO and more proactive planning through entities like BPA and other regional forums, will be essential to meeting the scale of need.

At the same time, the state has a central and irreplaceable role to play. ODOE’s recommendations on transmission planning, permitting, and financing will provide an important foundation, but state action will be what determines whether those tools are fully realized. The 2027 legislature will be a key inflection point for translating planning progress into durable policy and investment frameworks that accelerate transmission development. More on that in Part 3 of this series.