As Portland's population and demand for power surges, Portland General Electric (PGE) is facing the challenging task of expanding its power-line system, potentially slicing through the tranquility of Forest Park. The utility company, known for keeping the lights on across Oregon, has eyes on threading more power lines through North Portland's sylvan refuge and has entered what it describes as a "due-diligence phase," a PGE spokesperson Andrea Platt told KGW.
In a move that's stirring unrest among the city's nature lovers, the proposed project hones in on a mere three acres of the park's sprawling 5,000-plus expanse, but the prospect of any encroachment has rattled residents. Despite PGE's reassurances of bolstering the grid's reliability and resilience, Platt emphasized that the company is actively courting public opinion, undertaking a telephone poll that has spread its net wide, gauging sentiment not just on the possible tree felling but on the very reputation of PGE itself, and even touching on the favorability of local business and political figures, according to a person who received the call and spoke to Willamette Week under conditions of anonymity.
Forest Park, a beloved urban oasis where people like Kassandra Omvik find respite amidst the bustling city, might soon hear the echo of chainsaws instead of the usual chorus of birds. "It feels like an escape from town," Omvik told KGW, highlighting the park's cherished position as a natural haven that doesn't feel like you're in a big city. Meanwhile, Hailey Robinson, another local and frequenter of the park's trails, expressed her concern to KGW about potential deforestation and the loss of the region's natural beauty, anchors of Pacific Northwest pride.
PGE is walking a tightrope as it navigates the demand for heightened electricity supply, driven in part by the booming presence of high-tech industrial customers, the company's expectations point to a 2% annual increase in energy deliveries through 2027, and this growth trajectory was outlined in PGE's investor presentation released today. Spokeswoman Platt noted that any work carried out would adhere to strict city standards and public process requirements, which she confirmed in an email. The lines under discussion lie within existing easements and next to power lines owned by Bonneville Power Administration, further illustrating PGE's existing footprint in the park's infrastructure. Entities like the Forest Park Conservancy and officials from Portland Parks & Recreation have yet to weigh in publicly on the charged issue.
