PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NOTICE OF INTENT REQUESTED

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON NOTICE OF INTENT REQUESTED Cascade Renewable Transmission System Comments on Notice of Intent for Cascade Renewable Transmission System Requested by June 1, 2023. On March 7, 2023, the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) received a Notice of Intent to File an Application for a Site Certificate (NOI) for the Cascade Renewable Transmission System (facility). Facility and Site Description: The facility is a proposed 320-kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line that would span approximately 100 miles between The Dalles and Portland. The majority of the proposed HVDC line would be installed in the bed of the Columbia River using a hydro jet cable burial machine, or jet plow. A segment of the HDVC line would be buried in lands adjacent to the river near Stevenson, Washington to avoid the Bonneville Lock and Dam and other sensitive resources. Additional underground and overhead segments and related or supporting facilities would be located near the points of interconnection near The Dalles and Portland. The proposed site boundary would include lands and waters in and adjacent to Wasco County, the City of the Dalles, the City of Mosier, Hood River County, the City of Hood River, the City of Cascade Locks, Multnomah County, the City of Fairview, the City of Gresham, the City of Troutdale and the City of Portland. Additional information, including maps, a full public notice, and a copy of the NOI are available at: https://www.oregon.gov/energy/facilities-safety/facilities/Pages/CRT.aspx Siting Process Overview: The proposed transmission line qualifies as an energy facility under ORS 469.300*11(a)(C), and the applicant must obtain a Site Certificate from the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC or Council) before it may construct or operate of the proposed facility. To obtain a site certificate the applicant must demonstrate that the proposed facility meets the standards established by the Council in OAR chapter 345, other applicable Oregon statutes, rules and standards, and Oregon’s land use planning goals. ODOE serves as staff to the Council and conducts much of the application review process. Submitting the NOI is the first step in the process of obtaining a site certificate. The NOI, and any comments on the NOI from the public, state agencies, local governments, or Native American Tribes will be used to establish the legal standards and evidentiary requirements for the review of the full application in the Project Order. Land Use Review: The applicant may choose to obtain local land use approval directly from the affected local governments or by seeking a determination of compliance from the Council. In the NOI, the applicant has indicated that it intends elected to seek a determination from the Council. If the applicant changes their election and later chooses to obtain local land use approval, any person interested in land use issues should participate in that affected local government’s land use process if it is not yet complete. Corridor Selection Assessment: As part of the NOI, the applicant conducted a corridor selection assessment that considered two alternatives that would avoid in-river work by undergrounding the transmission line on land, primarily in the rights-of-way of state and federal highways. The applicant found that neither alternative was feasible due to restrictions on installing utility facilities in the paved portion of rights-of-way. The NOI identifies two alternative corridors for the segment between Government Island and the Western Converter Station Site in Portland and two alternative corridors between the Western Converter Station Site and N. Lombard St. in Portland. The proposed corridors are subject to change, and the applicant may present adjustments at the informational meetings described below. In selecting corridors for analysis in the application, the applicant must consider public comments on the corridors proposed in the NOI and on any corridor adjustments the applicant presents at the informational meeting. Informational Meetings: There will be two public informational meetings on the Notice of Intent. The meetings will begin with an opportunity for in-person attendees to ask ODOE and the applicant questions about the project followed by presentations for both in-person and remote attendees. All attendees will then have the opportunity to provide comment or ask additional questions. Additional details are provided below. Meeting 1 – The Dalles Date: May 2, 2023 Time: 5:00 PM – Q&A 6:00 PM – Webinar Location: Columbia Gorge Discovery Center 5000 Discovery Drive, The Dalles, OR 97058 Call In: +1-408-418-9388 Access Code: 234 950 44744 Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/CRT-NOI-0502 Webinar number: 2349 504 4744 Password: EFSC Meeting 2 – Portland Date: May 3, 2023 Time: 5:00 PM – Q&A 6:00 PM – Webinar Location: Oxford Suites – Jantzen Beach 12226 N Jantzen Drive Portland, OR 97217 Call In: +1-408-418-9388 Access Code: 233 783 12031 Webinar: https://tinyurl.com/CRT-NOI-0503 Webinar number: 2337 831 2031 Password: EFSC The informational meeting is not a public hearing, and participation in the informational meeting is not required to establish eligibility to participate in the contested case proceeding. Public Comments: In addition to providing comments at the informational meetings, the Department requests written on the NOI to help identify issues and areas of concern that should be addressed in the application. Comments must be received by June 1, 2023, to be considered in the development of the Project Order. ODOE is now accepting public comments through an online portal. The portal is intended to provide a convenient option to participate in Council proceedings. The portal can be accessed at: https://odoe.powerappsportals.us/SitingPublic Comment/ To comment on this project, select Cascade Renewable Transmission from the drop-down menu and follow the instructions. You will receive an email confirmation after submitting your comment. Written comments may also be submitted by mail, e-mail, or by fax. Please send comments to: Oregon Department of Energy ATTN: Christopher Clark, Senior Siting Analyst 550 Capitol Street NE Salem, OR 97301 Phone: (503) 871-7254 Fax: (503) 373-7806 Email: christopher.clark@energy.oregon.gov Published April 19 & 21, 2023. OL284585

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