The Project generally consists of four phases.
Phase 1 – Remove the old Belfair Warehouse (completed in 2024) and construct a switching station on PUD-owned property (completed summer 2026). This will include modifying the connection to the high-voltage BPA transmission lines and re-feeding the Belfair Substation and the Union River and Collins Lake Substations out of the new switching station. COMPLETED
Phase 2 - Upgrade the existing Belfair Substation, which is at the end of its useful life, with a larger-capacity transformer (completed July 2025). This will allow for additional growth within its existing service reach, and provide increased resiliency and reliability for the residential, commercial, and industrial growth in the area. All upgrades will be completed in October 2026.
Phase 3 - Construction of a new 3.6-mile 115 kV transmission line from the PUD's new switching station to the site of a future substation near the Belfair Water District's water tower. After evaluating multiple routes, the best plan is to generally follow BPA's transmission corridor and then up along Clifton Ridge to the new substation location (see Phase 4 below). A state CERB loan has been approved for this portion of the project.
Phase 4 - The final phase of this multi-year project will be to construct a new high-capacity substation near the Belfair Water Tower to serve upcoming development in the Log Yard Road area and on land that will be opened by the future WSDOT Belfair Freight Corridor project. This new substation will not only provide for growth, but also allow PUD 3 to re-route power to Belfair and Tahuya in emergency situations if there are issues on the primary transmission line.