Surely expanding this transmission line is the best way to expand GREEN electricity.

Thank you for your consideration,

Good Morniing and Happy Halloween -- 

Thank you for this comment period. Renewable energy and not just small hydro projects are one of my favorite things. I'm a person who invests in solar energy and watch, with a smile, the building of solar around the globe. Since my utility company does not do tru up I still pay a lost cost for energy and "contribute" for free, energy back to the utility. But, that's okay, as long as it is a beginning of seeing renewable energy online in the Northwest. And, this transmission upgrade can be a part of the growing enthusiasm for renewables. 

This transmission upgrade represents the lowest hanging fruit for expanding Montana’s renewable energy. No new transmission lines will be built, no condemnation will be necessary, and no new right of way will be created. Most of the proposed upgrades involve reinforcements to existing infrastructure and the existing 500-kilovolt line. One new substation will be built under existing transmission lines in the existing right of way between Missoula and St. Regis.

Montana has tremendous renewable energy resources. These resources can help the Northwestern United States reduce global warming emissions and meet clean energy goals. Without a way to transport renewable energy, utilities in Washington and Oregon will continue to rely on dirty coal power from Colstrip rather than Montana’s clean solar energy.

Dear BPA,

I am contacting you about the proposed Montana to Washington Transmission System Upgrade Project. I believe this project will offer enormous benefits to Montana and the greater Northwest, and offer my support for upgrade.

I believe the Montana-Washington transmission line upgrade should be a priority for BPA because it will:

•Minimize community and environmental impacts •Increase capacity for clean, renewable development to serve Montana and the Northwest •Help meet regional greenhouse gas reduction goals

Importantly, the environmental analysis of the project should have evaluated the reduced greenhouse gas emissions from the renewable energy that has contracted for capacity along the line. Renewable energy offers us a carbon free source and affordable source of energy.

BPA should also include an analysis of the economic benefits of the renewable energy projects from the transmission upgrade. For example, wind projects have already provided over $1.2 billion in capital investment and created over 1,000 construction jobs and over 100 permanent jobs in Montana.

I am submitting comments on the proposed Montana to Washington Transmission System Upgrade Project. I am convinced that this is a very cost-effective infrastructure investment that will have great benefit to my state (Montana) as well as the rest of the Northwest US.

I urge BPA to make this  Montana-Washington transmission line upgrade a priority for BPA for these reasons:

·       It will increase capacity for clean, renewable development  in the Northwest US.

·       This will help us meet regional greenhouse gas reduction goals .

·       Because it upgrades existing infrastructure, it minimizes community and environmental impacts.

I urge BPA to analyze economic benefits of the renewable energy projects from the transmission upgrade. For example, wind projects have already provided over $1.2 billion in capital investment and created over 1,000 construction jobs and over 100 permanent jobs in Montana.

I also urge BPA to evaluate the reduced greenhouse gas emissions from the renewable energy that has contracted for capacity along the line. These economic and environmental benefits make this project an important investment in our children’s future.

Thank you for considering these comments.

Dear Folks, it is critical to the future that we provide a pathway to support green energy as quickly as possible . We need to be able to tap the economic growth possible by turning to wind and solar now and we need to be able to transport this clean energy I vastly larger volumes in the future  if we are to have the future we all want. Build the infrastructure now!

From: Citizens for Clean Energy, Inc. of Montana, cce-mt.org

On behalf of CCE's membership, we applaud the BPA's commitment to upgrade the Montana-to-Washington transmission system to help EXPORT Montana's abundant clean energy, especially WINDPOWER which will help Montana's economy tremendously, from land lease payments, local taxes and helping to reduce pollution and emissions.

This is a tremendous opportunity and will help our state and Nation move forward as leaders in clean energy.

Sincerely,

Lt. Colonel (Ret, USAR) Richard D. Liebert Chair, Citizens for Clean Energy, Inc.

As a resident of Washington I would like you to study the amount of renewable power access we would have using the upgrade to existing lines. If we can use renewable energy for upgrading our capacity then we can rely less on the fossil fuel energies that is also coming from the Colstrip Power Plant in Montana,  and used by Puget Sound Energy. This is one of the dirtiest coal plants in the country and poisoning the health of the people in Montana. The reliance on renewable clean energy and using existing lines is a benefit to both states.

Judith Akins

Yes! Please do the reinforcements and upgrades necessary to transmit more clean energy and meet clean energy goals. I already do my part with a recent Community Energy Challenge retrofit, and pay for green energy in my PSE bill. Please do your (larger) part.

Thank you.

Jean Waight