The U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation has issued a right-of-use authorization that allows for the construction of a transmission line associated with the 393.3-MW Swan Lake North Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project.

The land is two remote 40-acre parcels east of Klamath Falls, Ore., Reclamation says.

The authorization permits Swan Lake North Hydro LLC to develop the generating facility through a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) license for private development.

The 19-acre Swan Lake North Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Project site, adjacent to the Lost River, will be used to construct and maintain an electrical transmission line, associated right-of-way, four mono-poles that support the transmission line and temporary access roads.

Reclamation adopted and re-circulated FERC’s Final Environmental Impact Statement on July 19, 2019, and signed a Record of Decision last week authorizing public land use. Reclamation worked with FERC on the development of the Final EIS beginning in 2016.

The Swan Lake North Project will consist of a new upper and lower reservoir, a steel penstock connecting the upper reservoir to the powerhouse, a partially buried powerhouse containing three 131.1-MW variable speed reversible pump-turbine units, three steel penstocks connecting the powerhouse to the lower reservoir, a transmission line and substation, and access roads to the lower and upper reservoirs.

Power generated by the project will be transmitted through a new adjacent fenced substation and then through a new 32.8-mile-long, 230-kV above ground transmission line to interconnect with the existing Malin Substation.

The Swan Lake North Project is expected to generate 1.187 GWh of electricity annually. It is anticipated to provide nine hours of energy storage and create 3,360 jobs.