Fighting for Forest Park: Harborton Reliability Project
Learn how you can fight to protect Forest Park from PGE’s Harborton Reliability Project, a proposal to clear 4.7 acres of this iconic park.
Overview
Portland General Electric’s (PGE’s) Harborton Reliability Project is a proposal to update their power grid infrastructure in the northern stretches of Forest Park. PGE, who has been considering this project since July 2022, now describes the project as an urgent fix to prevent future blackouts, improve energy reliability and increase transmission capacity of its system. It proposes to upgrade one existing power line, and clearcut 4.7 acres of Forest Park. This secluded area of Forest Park includes two seasonal streams, 150+ year old trees, and a diverse native understory. The current proposal is phase 3 of a multiphase project, with at least 2 more phases already confirmed. PGE has released an environmental mitigation strategy, which includes planting young native shrubs and oaks and funding habitat enhancement in other sections of Forest Park. PGE evaluated other development routes, including 16 paths fully outside Forest Park, but decided that this route was the most practical.
Bird Alliance of Oregon’s Stance on the Project
Bird Alliance of Oregon strongly opposes PGE’s Harborton Reliability Project. This proposal to clear 4.7 acres of mature, complex forest within Forest Park is in direct opposition to the Forest Park Natural Resource Management Plan (NRMP), which legally governs how Forest Park is to be managed. The top 2 priorities of the NRMP are to 1) grow an old-growth forest and 2) protect and enhance the forest for educational and recreational opportunities. PGE’s proposal directly contradicts both of these goals. The ecological loss sustained from the proposed development would take several hundred years to regenerate. Additionally, PGE’s own analysis has shown that there are at least 2 other viable routes outside of Forest Park.
PGE’s failure to be fully transparent about their plans for expansion and their failure to meaningfully amend their application based on public feedback raises concern over this utility’s interest in community resilience (one of the stated goals of the project). It shines light on the need for the City and PGE to engage with key stakeholders and the public on how to facilitate the energy transition in the Portland area in a way that allows all alternatives to be fully vetted.
Next Steps
As of Oct 29, 2024, the proposal was deemed complete by the City of Portland. The proposal is currently being reviewed by city staff, with a hearing date scheduled for Jan 29, 2025.
Take Action
Public comment is now open! Submit written comments to internal city staff by Dec 4, 2024.
Send comments to: Morgan Steele, Morgan.Steele@portlandoregon.gov
Email subject line: Re:LU 24-041109 CU EN GW
Deadline to submit: Dec 4, 2024
Click here for a template on how to comment, and an example of a comment.
Talking Points
It’s critical to include BOTH your personal why and criteria-based arguments. Your personal voice reminds decision makers that there are real people, with real experiences, who are affected by proposals like this. It’s also absolutely crucial that you include arguments based on criteria in the Forest Park Natural Resources Management Plan (NRMP). The NRMP is a legal document that establishes how Forest Park is to be managed. The 2 main goals of the NRMP are to 1) grow an ancient forest and 2) protect/enhance the forest for education/recreational opportunities. PGE’s proposal directly contradicts these goals.
The three most important arguments to include in your comments are:
- PGE’s proposal directly contradicts the top priority in the Forest Park Natural Resources Management Plan, which is to manage the forest towards old growth.
- PGE’s Alternatives Analysis shows there are possible locations outside Forest Park.
- Approval of this project could set a precedent for future phases of PGE’s project and other development in Forest Park
Additional Resources
Interested in learning more? Check out the resources below.
- Learn more about the history of Forest Park, how PGE’s proposal impacts it, and how to advocate for it by watching our Nature Night: Fight for Forest Park
- Read through the Nature Night presentation on the project here
- You can find PGE’s full proposal here
- Read PGE’s perspective here: Link to PGE’s website
- Read Forest Park Conservancy’s article on the proposal
- Check out our blogpost on the project from earlier this summer
- Click here for a project summary.
- Check out this Oregonian article
More Questions? Reach out to Karly Chin, Advocacy Program Coordinator: kchin@birdallianceoregon.org