Concerning the electric transmission system.
What changed between versions
Board members appointed by the governor must now be confirmed by the Senate, and at least half must reside east of the Cascade Mountains.
The Authority must consult with neighboring landowners regarding wildfire mitigation and advanced transmission technologies.
The Tribal Clean Energy Partnership work group was replaced with a requirement to contract with the Governor's Office of Indian Affairs to develop a statewide tribal consultation framework for transmission planning.
The Authority must update its transmission corridor identification study every five years using an open and transparent process.
Apprenticeship programs used for construction must now demonstrate a 25% completion rate over the prior eight years.
A new definition of 'neighboring landowner' was added to clarify who is affected by transmission corridors.
A new provision requires the Authority to make payments in lieu of property taxes to counties where it owns transmission facilities.
The Authority must identify high-priority transmission corridors by October 30, 2027, based on a specific Western Transmission Expansion Coalition report.
