Developers behind $1.5B plan to put power line under Columbia River make case to regulators, minimal public at Washougal hearing

Project’s first meeting in WA went smoothly

By Henry Brannan, Columbian Murrow News Fellow

November 20, 2025 8:05 am

Business, Camas, Clark County, Environment, News, Washougal

During a Monday public meeting at Black Pearl on the Columbia in Washougal, PowerBridge Senior Vice President Chris Hocker, left, speaks while manager Susan Brown holds up a cross section of a cable to be used in the proposed Cascade Renewable Transmission Project. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Kate Murphy, a senior community organizer with Columbia Riverkeeper, asks a question during a Monday meeting in Washougal about the Cascade Renewable Transmission Project. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council staff member Maria Belkina, left, speaks to a crowd Monday during a public meeting at Black Pearl on the Columbia in Washougal. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

Audience members listen to a presentation Monday at Black Pearl on the Columbia in Washougal during a public meeting about the Cascade Renewable Transmission Project. (Taylor Balkom/The Columbian)

WASHOUGAL — The developers behind a $1.5 billion project to bury a 100-mile-long transmission line under the Columbia River made their case to state permitters Monday night in Washougal.

The Cascade Renewable Transmission System project has faced pushback from Native groups and environmental advocates for the harm it stands to cause the already struggling river. But that did not translate into much pushback at the first hearing for the project in Washington. Monday’s meeting was sparsely attended.

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