Portland General Electric's Harborton Reliability Project faces conservationist backlash

Portland General Electric's Harborton Reliability Project, which would cut down 400 trees on a 5-acre plot, is facing massive backlash from conservation groups. While the project is yet to gain final approval from City Hall, it is already facing contention. According to a report by Ecoticias.com, the project is vital to maintain reliable power for over 55,000 homes and businesses. However, detractors argue that mature forest, wetlands, waterways, and wildlife will suffer the brunt. The city is awaiting a staff report recommending the revised application.

Why the project matters

According to PGE, a new 1,400 ft segment of high-voltage transmission line would improve distribution of electricity in the event of equipment failure or spikes in demand during extreme heat waves or cold spells. It would also include an upgrade to a decades-old line inside a utility corridor. The utility points to potential outages in parts of Portland coming as soon as 2028 if the work is not approved. Initially, it was agreed that PGE would funnel $5.5 million into habitat restoration in and around Forest Park in addition to environmental remediation needed after the construction is finished. The money could fund wetland restoration and wildfire fuel reduction along with land and wildlife conservation and invasive plant removal. However, the final decision over the allocation of funds will be made by the city. Once the agreement features a revised construction plan and more technical analysis, a public hearing must be held before an officer whose decision can be subject to an appeals process with City Council. The proposal also allotted $250,000 for an outside consultant to evaluate feasibility.

Why the critics are calling it a bad deal

Forest Park Conservancy, Bird Alliance of Oregon and Forest Park Neighbourhood Association were not at all satisfied with the mediation process. They refused to sign the agreement after being excluded from final negotiations, which they described as a “backroom agreement” that circumvented legitimate public review. They called for $7.5 million, $2 million more than PGE’s offer, placing $5 million of that into a conservation trust for better public oversight. Their plan asks for restoration of up to 100 acres in the park’s north end to compensate for forest damage, clean up streams, and restore habitat connectivity. As of now, the trees are safe. The city must still review PGE's revised application, publish notice, schedule a hearing and hear the independent auditor. Although recent developments lean towards approval of the agreement, the ecological cost still has to be weighed in a public, transparent process with all concerned parties included.