The South Milliken Towers transmission line replacement project has reached a major milestone, with land use approvals secured across all four required jurisdictions. The linear, 18-mile transmission line for Portland General Electric (PGE) will replace hundreds of towers with modern poles and wires. Many of the existing towers date back to 1911 when the line was first constructed, from the Faraday Dam southeast of Estacada to the City of Portland.

PGE Milliken Towers original construction

Coordinating a Complex Permitting Process

Winterbrook Planning navigated approvals across multiple jurisdictions, including Estacada, Clackamas County, Multnomah County, and Gresham. Each jurisdiction has unique zoning requirements, natural resource protections, and review processes.

Winterbrook identified the appropriate land use permits, prepared application materials, and coordinated across agencies to secure all needed approvals from the dam to SE Hogan Road in Gresham.

PGE South Milliken Towers – cross section for new towers

Upgrading Critical Infrastructure

The project will replace hundreds of power line support towers along the corridor and install new, more efficient transmission wires, improving system reliability and supporting long-term energy needs for the Portland metro region.

With permits in hand, this part of the project can move forward—marking an important step in maintaining and modernizing essential infrastructure across the metropolitan area.