Forest Park power line plan sparks backlash
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A plan to cut down hundreds of trees in Forest Park to expand electrical transmission lines drew strong opposition Wednesday at the proposal's first public hearing, with opponents arguing the environmental costs of the project were too high.
Why it matters: The hearing before a land use hearings officer will likely decide the fate of the plan, which Portland General Electric says is a necessary upgrade to avoid power outages, with construction starting as soon as later this year if the project is approved.
State of play: The Harborton Reliability Project would replace existing power lines — and add several new ones — along an existing right-of-way in the northeast corner of the park.
- It would require cutting down roughly 376 trees — mostly Douglas fir and maple as well as some mature white oak trees — in a 5-acre area, according to PGE.
- The upgrades are necessary because "the system is projected to reach capacity limits," the utility said, citing experts who say that without an upgrade, power outages could come as soon as 2028.
- The utility also pledged to replant disturbed areas and put money toward removing invasive species in other parts of the park to mitigate environmental damage done by the project.
Friction point: Opponents of the plan argued the environmental harm, in one of Portland's most prized areas of urban wild space, is too great.
- The Forest Park Conservancy alleged that alternatives weren't fully explored and that future phases could further impact larger areas of the park.
- Last week, Portland's Permitting and Development office released a report recommending the land use hearings officer reject the project.
What they're saying: David Petersen, an attorney representing PGE, disputed the city's report, saying it was based on a flawed premise: that Forest Park should be treated as "a time capsule that only moves in one direction, toward old-growth forest."
- Other PGE representatives noted that power lines existed in the park before it was dedicated in 1948 and that increasing reliability of the electric grid would move the city closer to some of its climate goals.
The other side: Morgan Steele, a planner with the city, said the proposal failed to meet several criteria needed for approval, including exploring other alternatives, demonstrating a need for the project and an inadequate construction plan.
While several residents spoke in favor of the project, citing the need for increased transmission capacity as more people switch to electric vehicles and home appliances, comments from the public were mostly in favor of denying the proposal.
- Many opponents questioned the utility's mitigation plans and alleged the project goes against the idea of Forest Park as a protected area for conservation.
What's next: A decision from the hearings officer is expected to come in early March, though it could be appealed to the city council.