Tillamook Oceanside Transmission Line

Tillamook PUD is committed to providing reliable, safe and cost-effective energy to our customers and to strengthening the overall reliability, security and operating flexibility of our electric power system.

To accomplish these important objectives, Tillamook PUD identified the need for and proposed a new overhead 115 kV transmission line to connect the existing BPA substation in Tillamook to a new substation to be built near Oceanside.

When complete, the project will maximize reliability to homes and businesses located in the central Tillamook valley, create a more reliable electricity source to the communities of Netarts and Oceanside, and allow us to replace aging infrastructure without multiple extensive outages.

Information Sheets

An initial corridor was proposed in 2007 and numerous routes and route segments within that corridor were evaluated.  Meetings with both individuals and the public were held during 2011, 2012 and early 2013.  Line adjustments were made to accommodate stakeholder requests and the Front Street Route was identified as a preferred route. Tillamook PUD proposed the Front Street segment that would run 1.1 miles through the City of Tillamook; however, the project as proposed was stalled in 2014 due to land-use zoning issues. View the condensed timeline of events surrounding the conditional use permit application.

In July 2014, the PUD Board of Directors and the Tillamook City Council held a joint workshop to share information about the transmission line project and the City’s vision for downtown revitalization. Landowners and other stakeholders provided comments. Joint Workshop Meeting Summary (PDF).

Tillamook to Oceanside Transmission Line Siting — Citizen Advisory Group

A Citizen Advisory Group (CAG) was formed in early 2015 to participate in the Tillamook to Oceanside Transmission Line (TOTL) Siting process. This stakeholder group represented a cross section of community interests including local government, landowner, agriculture, business, non-governmental organizations and citizens-at-large. Proposed Process Design Document (PDF).

A series of CAG meetings and two project open houses were held during the first half of 2015.  All CAG meetings were open to the public and facilitated by Deb Nudelman, Kearns & West.

Citizen Advisory Group

Meeting Agendas

Proposed Meeting Dates

Advisory Group Meeting Dates

Tuesday, January 27, 2015; 6:00 – 8:30 PM Tillamook PUD, Carl Rawe Meeting Room, 1115 Pacific Avenue
Tuesday, February 24, 2015; 6:00 – 8:30 PM Tillamook PUD, Carl Rawe Meeting Room, 1115 Pacific Avenue
Tuesday, March 31, 2015; 6:00 – 8:30 PM Tillamook Bay Community College, Rm. 214/215, 4301 3rd Street
Wednesday, April 15, 2015; 6:00 – 8:30 PM Tillamook Bay Community College, Rm. 214/215, 4301 3rd Street
Tuesday, April 28, 2015; 6:00 – 8:30 PM Tillamook Bay Community College, Rm. 214/215, 4301 3rd Street
Tuesday, May 11, 2015; 6:00 – 8:30 PM Tillamook PUD, Carl Rawe Meeting Room, 1115 Pacific Avenue
Tuesday, May 26, 2015; 6:00 – 8:30 PM Tillamook Bay Community College, Rm. 214/215, 4301 3rd Street
Tuesday, June 23, 2015; 6:00 – 8:30 PM Tillamook PUD, Carl Rawe Meeting Room, 1115 Pacific Avenue

Revised 5/1/2015

Meeting Summaries

Tillamook to Oceanside Transmission Line Project – Citizen Advisory Group Meeting Summaries

Meeting Materials

Tillamook to Oceanside Transmission Line Project — Citizen Advisory Group Meeting Materials

Open House Information

Special Board Meeting — August 12, 2015

Tillamook to Oceanside Transmission Line Project — Special Board Meeting — August 12, 2015

Tillamook PUD staff and contractors are currently studying potential preferred route segments supported by the CAG to better understand conditions along these segments to help in project siting, design and engineering.  We will continue to collaborate with landowners, regulatory and permitting agencies, and the public to address concerns and resolve zoning issues.

In siting the line, our goals remain to minimize impacts to affected landowners and other stakeholders and manage associated costs to keep electricity prices affordable for all customers.

Open House – May 25, 2016

Public Workshops – October 2016

Route W2 Route C2 Route E1
Board Approved Preferred Tillamook to Oceanside Transmission Line Route Map

Project Update — May 2017

The District is working on the County permit process and will submit permit applications in July 2017. The cultural and biological studies associated with the permitting process have been conducted, but will likely require some follow-up later in the year.

Project Update — November 2017

The District has submitted the permit application to the County and the Joint Permit Application to the Corp of Engineers and the Department of State Lands. These permit applications are under review.

Access to the permit document can be obtain by completing the form below and selecting ‘Download’ and following the link that will be sent to your email address.

*last updated 11/15/2017

The District has filed a petition for the Convenience and Necessity with the Oregon Public Utility Commission. This process will establish the purpose and need for the project. A public Hearing is scheduled for November 14, 2017 at 6pm at the Tillamook Bay Community College.

Tillamook County Planning Commission Hearing – February 8, 2018

Presentation (PDF)

Project Update — April & May 2018

The Tillamook County Planning Commission met on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at the Tillamook County Courthouse for the final review and decision regarding the three pending Tillamook to Oceanside Transmission Line permits, including: the Consolidated Review of a Conditional Use permit number 851–17–000448-PLNG–01, the Floodway/Estuary/Floodplain Development permit number 851–17–000448–PLNG and the Administrative Review permit number 851–17–000448–PLNG–02.

Upon review, the five Planning Commissioners voted and approved the three permits. The Planning Commission’s Notice of Decision can be viewed below. 

Tillamook County Planning Commission Notice of Decision (PDF)

Project Update — June 2018

The Tillamook County Planning Commission’s decision to approve the Consolidated Review of a Conditional Use permit, the Floodway/Estuary/Floodplain Development permit, and the Administrative Review permit, has been appealed to the Tillamook County Commissioners office. The Commissioners will review and discuss these permits on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, at 1:00 p.m. at the Tillamook County Courthouse.

For more information, click here to view the Tillamook County Notice of Public Hearing (PDF).

Project Update — July 2018

The Tillamook County Board of Commissioners convened for the Public Hearing scheduled on Wednesday, July 11, 2018, to review the three Tillamook to Oceanside transmission line permits that were approved by the Planning Commissioners and then later appealed to the Tillamook County Commissioners office. These permits included the Consolidated Review of a Conditional Use permit, the Floodway/Estuary/Floodplain Development permit, and the Administrative Review permit. At the hearing, Tillamook County Planning Staff provided their report, and then testimony was given by the appellant, the applicant (Tillamook PUD) and members of the public. The Commissioners decided to hold the record open for a period of seven days, until Wednesday, July 18, 2018, for written testimony to be submitted by the appellant and the applicant only. The Public Hearing will continue on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at the Tillamook County Courthouse. At this hearing, Tillamook County Planning Staff will give their final report and the Board of Commissioners will deliberate. A third hearing will be held at the Tillamook County Courthouse on Monday, July 30, 2018 at 9:00 a.m., for the Board of Commissioners to finish deliberations and come to a final decision.

Project Update — August 2018

At the July 31, 2018, public hearing held at the Tillamook County Courthouse, the Tillamook County Commissioners voted to deny the appeals submitted for the Consolidated Review of a Conditional Use permit, the Floodway/Estuary/Floodplain Development permit, and the Administrative Review permit. The Public Utility Commission (PUC) will soon make a determination regarding the necessity of the project.

The Findings of Fact, Conclusions and Order from the Tillamook County Board of Commissioners Appeal ruling can be viewed below as well as the Tillamook County Planning Commission Notice of Decision for Appeal Requests.

Tillamook County Board of Commissioners Findings of Fact, Conclusions and Order (PDF)

Tillamook County Planning Commission Notice of Decision for Appeal Requests (PDF)

Project Update — November 2018

A public hearing was held on November 1 with the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to review the Tillamook to Oceanside transmission line project. The PUC is an independent entity that will analyze all project information submitted, including issues brought forth by the public, to make a determination on whether or not the project is needed and of public benefit.

At the hearing, Tillamook PUD staff provided testimony and answered questions regarding the project information submitted to the PUC. Moving forward, the PUC will analyze all of the information they have received and ask any additional follow-up questions they may have. Tillamook PUD will submit a briefing to the PUC and petitioners will also have the opportunity to submit a briefing as well. The PUC is currently determining due dates for the briefs.

February 2019

Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA)

  • Tillamook PUD and Petitioners have filed their Briefs and Response Briefs; LUBA has scheduled oral arguments to take place on Friday, February 19, 2019. After this occurs, LUBA has a deadline of 7-10 days to make their final decision on whether they will affirm, reverse or remand the County’s decision.

Public Utility Commission (PUC)

  • Tillamook PUD has filed additional testimony to the PUC as requested. The following schedule has been determined for further proceedings:
    • TPUD Opening Brief — February 22, 2019
    • Staff/Intervenor Reply Brief — March 12, 2019
    • Staff/Intervenor Cross-Answering Brief (to respond to each other’s Reply Brief) — March 26, 2019
    • TPUD Closing Brief — April 2, 2019

The PUC will likely make a final decision within the next few months.

March 2019

On March 14, 2019 the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) ruled in favor of Tillamook County. This ruling affirmed the county’s decision to approve the Consolidated Review of a Conditional Use permit, the Floodway/Estuary/Floodplain Development permit, and the Administrative Review permit, submitted by Tillamook PUD for construction of the proposed Tillamook to Oceanside Transmission line.

To view a copy of LUBA’s complete Final Opinion and Order, select the below LUBA Final Opinion and Order.

March 14, 2019 LUBA Final Opinion and Order (PDF)

June 2019

The Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) decision in March 2019 was appealed to the Oregon Court of Appeals. On June 19, 2019, the Oregon Court of Appeals affirmed LUBA’s decision that Tillamook County adequately followed land use rules in approving the proposed Tillamook to Oceanside transmission line project. No written opinion was issued.

September 2019

The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) granted TPUD a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to construct an overhead transmission line from the Tillamook substation to a new substation located in Oceanside and to be constructed by Tillamook PUD. The PUC found that TPUD met the legal requirements under ORS 758.015 and OAR 860-025-0030(2).

A copy of the full order issued by the PUC can be found in the below document:

PUC 9.10.19 Order

August 2021

Tillamook PUD is working to complete the Tillamook County Land Use permitting requirements associated with the project. Completion conditions include environmental and cultural surveys, as well as permitting from the US Army Corps of Engineers. This fall, Tillamook PUD will continue collaborations with property owners along the proposed route to obtain easements. This process includes completing appraisals of the proposed easement areas and negotiations with the property owners. The contract for construction of the transmission line and Oceanside substation will be issued for public bidding later in 2021. Project construction is tentatively planned to begin in mid-2022.

November 2021

Tillamook PUD is seeking proposals for the construction of the RUS funded Tillamook to Oceanside Transmission Line and Substation. The Request for Proposal can be found at www.tpud.org/rfp. All proposals are due no later than 2:00 P.M. local time, on January 18th, 2022.  A mandatory pre-proposal meeting will be held on December 8th, 2021 at 9:00 A.M. local time. The link to register for this meeting can be found here. After registering for this meeting attendees will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

February 2022

At the February 15, 2022 Tillamook PUD Board of Directors meeting, the proposed Tillamook to Oceanside transmission line and substation contract for construction was discussed. Upon discussion of the project scope of work, alternative route options, cost, and details, the Directors voted to approve the General Manager to sign the Tillamook to Oceanside Transmission Line Contract concluding successful negotiations of the terms and conditions of the contract. The purchase of the Oceanside substation transformer in the amount of $710,000 was also approved.

April 2022

A public workshop was held on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, to discuss the Tillamook to Oceanside transmission line and substation project. This workshop provided an extensive overview of the project. Information and presentation slides from the workshop are available here:

Tillamook to Oceanside Transmission Line and Substation Project Overview Presentation

Following this workshop, the Tillamook PUD Board of Directors held their regular monthly board meeting. During this meeting, the Directors voted in approval of a resolution to begin acquiring easements and the substation property for the Tillamook to Oceanside transmission line and substation project. This approval authorizes Tillamook PUD staff to continue collaborating with property owners to secure easements along the Tillamook to Oceanside transmission line route.

August 2022

Tillamook PUD is working with property owners along the route to obtain easements. A contractor has been hired for the project. Construction is planned to start in quarter two of 2023.

March 2023

Tillamook PUD is working with the construction contractor to finalize the transmission line and substation design details. Tillamook PUD is also continuing work to acquire the remaining required permits from State and Federal agencies. Construction could begin as early as late summer of 2023, the majority of construction will take place in the summer of 2024.

August 2023

Tillamook PUD is working with the construction contractor to finalize the transmission line and substation design details. Tillamook PUD has acquired the remaining permits from State and Federal agencies. Construction will begin in the spring of 2024 and continue through the 2024 year.

 

For additional information regarding the Tillamook PUD Board of Directors meetings and workshops, please see the Tillamook PUD Board of Directors Agendas and Meetings section on our website.