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Developer asks FSEC for another year to pause Badger Mountain amid BPA transmission delays
Summary
Avangrid requested a 12‑month extension (through 07/31/2027) on Badger Mountain citing site-control, regulatory uncertainty, tax changes, supply‑chain impacts and Bonneville Power delays to Cross Cascade North (now anticipated to 2032). Staff will post the request and open a 30‑day public comment period before council consideration in September.
Joanne Snarski, FSEC siting specialist for Badger Mountain, told the council that Avangrid requested another 12‑month extension on the project review and a continued pause of activities. The request, which staff received late on a Thursday, would extend project status through July 31, 2027, and cites site control issues, regulatory uncertainty, tax changes and supply‑chain challenges as reasons for delay.
Developer Mark Eilers joined online to clarify transmission constraints: he said Bonneville Power Administration’s Cross Cascades North transmission schedule was previously anticipated for 2028 but has been delayed to 2032, meaning the project is effectively subject to that regional timeline. "BPA anticipated a construction timeline of 2028, which was recently delayed to 2032," Eilers said.
Staff will post the extension request to the project website, open a public comment period (anticipated to be 30 days) and return the matter to the council for consideration at the September meeting. If the council grants the extension the project remains active but paused; staff also noted that because the project already has a land‑use inconsistency determination on record, they do not anticipate the council needing to revisit that specific finding should the project resume.
What’s next: A public comment period will be announced and staff will compile comments for council review in September. The council discussed the broader implications of long transmission delays for regional planning.
