Gateway West
The Gateway West project is jointly proposed by the company and Idaho Power to build and operate approximately 1,000 miles of new high-voltage transmission lines in Wyoming and Idaho. It is comprised of two major line segments.
- Windstar to Populus, Segment D, will stretch approximately 488 miles starting at the Windstar substation near Glenrock, Wyoming, proceeding south to Medicine Bow and then spanning across southern Wyoming to the Populus substation near Downey, Idaho.
- Populus to Hemingway, Segment E, originates at the Populus substation near Downey, Idaho, and includes two 500 kilovolt single-circuit transmission lines that run approximately 502 miles across Idaho to the Hemingway substation near Melba, Idaho.
(Note: As a party to the project, Idaho Power has interest in specific segments between Populus and Hemingway, Gateway West Segment E.)
Segment D
Windstar to Populus, Segment D, will stretch approximately 488 miles starting at the Windstar substation near Glenrock, Wyoming, proceeding south to Medicine Bow and then spanning across southern Wyoming to the Populus substation near Downey, Idaho. This Segment D will include seven expanded or new substations and will enable access to existing and new generating resources, including wind, delivering electricity from these sources to customers.
On April 4, 2017, PacifiCorp issued its 2017 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) announcing plans to construct a portion of Segment D - Windstar to Populus. Independent of Idaho Power, PacifiCorp initiated state and local permitting and rights-of-way acquisition for 140 miles of 500 kilovolt transmission line between the planned Aeolus substation near Medicine Bow, Wyoming and the Jim Bridger power plant near Point of Rocks, Wyoming, sub segment D.2 – Aeolus to Bridger/Anticline.
Windstar to Populus, Segment D, has been divided into three subsegments:
- D.1 – Windstar to Aeolus: A single-circuit 230 kilovolt line that will run approximately 75 miles between the existing Windstar substation in eastern Wyoming and the planned Aeolus substation near Medicine Bow, Wyoming. The Gateway West subsegment D.1 transmission line is planned to be placed in service November 2024.
- D.2 – Aeolus to Bridger/Anticline: A single-circuit 500 kilovolt line running approximately 140 miles from the planned Aeolus substation to a new annex substation (Anticline) near the existing Jim Bridger substation in western Wyoming. Construction of subsegment D.2 is part of PacifiCorp’s Energy Vision 2020 project. Energy Vision 2020 is a $3.1 billion investment, which added 1,150 megawatts of new wind, primarily in Wyoming; “repowered” the existing company-owned Wyoming wind fleet with longer blades and newer technology to increase energy production and extend the life of the projects; and constructed a new 140-mile Gateway West transmission segment placed in service November 2020. The availability of federal tax credits helped cover the costs of these investments to provide a net savings to customers over the life of the projects.
- D.3 – Anticline to Populus: A single-circuit 500 kilovolt line running approximately 200 miles between the new annex substation (Anticline) substation near Point of Rocks, Wyoming to the existing Populus substation near Downey, Idaho. Construction of subsegment D.3 is part of PacifiCorp’s 2021 IRP. The 2021 IRP outlines PacifiCorp’s bold vision for the West between now and 2040 and sets us on the path to:
- Continue our growth into a grid powered by clean energy.
- Connect and optimize diverse, clean resources across the West with a strengthened and modernized transmission network that ensures resilient service, reduces costs and creates maximum opportunities for our communities to thrive.
The Gateway West subsegment D.3 transmission segment is planned to be placed in service November 2027.
Project timeline
- Public Scoping – June 2008
- Environmental Impact Statement – 2007 - 2013
- Record of Decision – November 2013 includes numerous Notice to Proceed requirements. The company is working with Bureau of Land Management to comply and obtain the various Notice to Proceed requirements.
- Public outreach – June 2008 through project completion
- Subsegment D.2 – placed in service November 3, 2020
- Subsegment D.1 – scheduled in service 2024
- Subsegment D.3 – in service 2027 at the earliest
Additional information about the project
Under the National Environmental Policy Act, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has completed the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Gateway West project. The BLM released its final EIS April 26, 2013, followed by the Record of Decision November 14, 2013, providing a right-of-way grant for all segments in Wyoming and partial segments in Idaho. In March 2018, the Bureau of Land Management issued the Record of Decision for the remaining segments.
Public participation
Public input is an important part of the transmission line development process and is welcomed at all stages. In addition to public, group and individual meetings, project materials and newsletters also were sent to more than 11,000 landowners and other interested parties throughout this process and will continue through the end of the project with continued web page and newsletter updates.
To contact Rocky Mountain Power about this transmission project, please email ConstructionProjects@pacificorp.com. Please be sure to include the project name – "Gateway West project" – in your inquiry.
Gateway West maps
Updated maps can be viewed below:
Segment E
Populus to Hemingway, Segment E, originates at the Populus substation near Downey, Idaho, and includes two 500 kilovolt single-circuit transmission lines that run approximately 502 miles across Idaho to the Hemingway substation near Melba, Idaho. The Populus to Hemingway segment will include five expanded or new substations and will enable access to existing and new generating resources, including wind, and delivering electricity from these sources to customers.
Project timeline
- Public Scoping – June 2008
- Environmental Impact Statement – 2007 - 2013
- Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement – 2014 - 2016
- Public outreach – June 2008 through project completion
- Estimated line in service for customers – 2030 at the earliest
Additional information about the project
Under the National Environmental Policy Act, the Bureau of Land Management has completed the Environmental Impact Statement for the Gateway West project. On April 26, 2013, the Bureau of Land Management released its final Environmental Impact Statement, followed by the Record of Decision November 14, 2013, providing a rights-of-way grant for most of the project. The agency chose to defer its decision on the western-most portion of the project located in Idaho in order to perform additional review of the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. The Bureau of Land Management completed a supplemental environmental analysis for Segments 8 and 9 of the project which encompasses that area. On October 7, 2016, the BLM released its final supplemental EIS, followed by the Record of Decision January 19, 2017. That Record of Decision was appealed to the Interior Board of Land Appeals. The Interior Board of Land Appeals remanded the January 19, 2017, Record of Decision back to Bureau of Land Management in April 2017. In May 2017, then-President Trump signed the Fiscal year 2017 Consolidated Appropriations Act into law which included Congressman Simpson’s agreement on Gateway West transmission line routing through the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. House Resolution 2104 directs the Secretary of Interior to grant a rights of way grant on the Companies’ preferred routing (Alternative 1).
See below for additional information on public participation and project history, and visit the BLM website for more information.
Public participation
Public input is an important part of the transmission line development process and is welcomed at all stages. In addition to public, group and individual meetings, project materials and newsletters also were sent to more than 11,000 landowners and other interested parties throughout this process and will continue through the end of the project with continued web page and newsletter updates.
Publications and other public outreach that was conducted can be found on our Gateway West website.
To contact Rocky Mountain Power about this transmission project, please email EnergyGatewayProjects@pacificorp.com. Please be sure to include the project name – "Gateway West project" – in your inquiry.
Gateway West maps
Updated maps can be viewed below:
Further information also can be found at our Gateway West website.
Next steps
The Record of Decision and rights-of-way grant contains many conditions and stipulations that must be met and accepted before the project segments can move to construction. Rocky Mountain Power and Idaho Power Company will continue the work to meet these requirements, meeting regularly with the Bureau of Land Management to review progress.
There is more work to be done to obtain state and local permits, as well as obtaining rights-of-way for individual segments. The companies will continue evaluating the timing of next steps in the project to best meet our customer and system needs.
Project history
2020
- November – On November 3, 2020, Subsegment D.2 Aeolus to Bridger/Anticline transmission line was energized and placed in service. On November 5, 2020, the associated 230 kilovolt network upgrades were energized and placed in service.
- December – Final testing and commissioning completed.
2019
- April – On April 9, 2019, the Wyoming Public Service Commission issued a bench order authorizing Subsegment D.2 Aeolus to Bridger/Anticline to begin construction, and construction commenced that day.
- June – On June 30, 2019, construction commenced on the associated 230 kilovolt network upgrades.
2018
- January – The Idaho Bureau of Land Management state director signed the Finding of No New Significant Impacts for the remaining portions of segments 8 and 9 in Idaho.
- March – The Department of Interior Assistant Secretary of Lands and Minerals signed the Decision Record for the remaining portions of segments 8 and 9 in Idaho.
- April – On April 26, 2018, the Notice of Availability of the Decision Record was published in the Federal Register.
- April – The Wyoming Public Service Commission approved the Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity for the D.2 segment of Gateway West.
- September – The Carbon County Board of County Commissioners approved the Conditional Use Permit for the D.2 segment and associated 230 kilovolt network upgrades.
- October – The Wyoming Industrial Siting Council approved the permit for the D.2 segment and associated 230 kilovolt network upgrades.
2017
- January – The Bureau of Land Management issued a Record of Decision for the final two segment 8 (Midpoint to Hemingway) and segment 9 (Cedar Hill to Hemingway) for the agency’s preferred Alternative 5.
- April – PacifiCorp issued its 2017 Integrated Resource Plan announcing plans to construct a portion of Segment D - Windstar to Populus. PacifiCorp will initiate state and local permitting and rights-of-way acquisition for 140 miles of 500 kilovolt transmission line between the planned Aeolus substation near Medicine Bow, Wyoming and the Jim Bridger power plant near Point of Rocks, Wyoming.
- April – The Department of Interior Board of Land Appeals remanded the Record of Decision back to the Bureau of Land Management for reconsideration of the route alternative.
- May – Then-President Trump signed the Fiscal year 2017 Consolidated Appropriations Act into law which included Congressman Simpson’s agreement on Gateway West transmission line routing through the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. House Resolution 2104 directs the Secretary of Interior to grant a rights-of-way on the Companies’ preferred routing (Alternative 1).
2016
- March – The Bureau of Land Management published the draft Supplemental Environment Impact Statement.
- April – The Bureau of Land Management conducted four public open house meetings.
- April - July – The companies worked with the Bureau of Land Management to develop a mitigation framework plan to determine how mitigation requirements will be determined.
- October – The Bureau of Land Management published the final Supplemental Environment Impact Statement.
2014
- August – The Bureau of Land Management published the Supplemental Environment Impact Statement Notice of Intent and began the 30-day Public Scoping process.
- October – The Bureau of Land Management conducted scoping meetings.
2013
- April – The Bureau of Land Management issued a final Environmental Impact Statement and opened the 60-day comment period.
- May – The Bureau of Land Management hosted a series of public open houses throughout the project area.
- November – The Bureau of Land Management issued its Record of Decision for segments 1 through 7 (Windstar to Populus, Populus to Midpoint and Populus to Cedar Hill) and segment 10 (Midpoint to Cedar Hill). The Bureau of Land Management deferred their decision for segment 8 (Midpoint to Hemingway) and segment 9 (Cedar Hill to Hemingway). A separate Record of Decision will be released providing rights-of-way grants for the remaining segments following additional environmental analysis.
2012
- Throughout the year – Companies continued to meet with elected officials, community leaders and other interested parties to brief them on the status of the project.
- August – The Bureau of Land Management identified agency preferred alternatives.
- September – More than 12,600 newsletters (PDF) sent to landowners and interested parties providing an update on the project.
2011
- Throughout the year – Companies continued to meet with elected officials, community leaders and other interested parties to brief them on the status of the project.
- January – More than 11,200 newsletters (PDF) sent to landowners and interested parties providing an update on the project.
- July 29 – Bureau of Land Management published in Federal Register a Notice of Availability announcing draft Environmental Impact Statement release, followed by a 90-day public comment period.
- September/October 2011 – Bureau of Land Management hosted 17 public open houses on the draft Environmental Impact Statement throughout the project area.
- October 28 – Draft Environmental Impact Statement public comment period closed.
2010
- July – Environmental Assessment for Geotechnical Drilling released by Bureau of Land Management with finding of no significant impact.
- August – More than 11,400 newsletters (PDF) sent to landowners and interested parties providing an update on the project.
- September – Bureau of Land Management approved rights-of-way grant to allow for geotechnical studies to be conducted on BLM-managed land.
2009
- Throughout the year – Companies continued to meet with elected officials, community leaders and other interested parties to brief them on the status of the project.
- January – Application filed with Bureau of Land Management to perform geotechnical studies along the routes.
- March through November – Companies held public landowner meetings in various communities throughout Idaho and Wyoming.
- July – More than 6,300 newsletters (PDF) sent to landowners and interested parties providing information about the project.
2008
- Throughout the year – Both companies met with elected officials, community leaders and other interested parties to brief them on the project.
- May 12 – Notice of Intent is issued by the Bureau of Land Management to notify the public that the public process for the project had begun.
- June – Bureau of Land Management held nine public scoping meetings.
- December – Companies held nine landowner meetings.
2007
- May – PacifiCorp and Idaho Power filed an application with the Bureau of Land Management for an easement across federal lands.
(Updated November 2021)