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Seattle/Western Wash. News Releases for Mon. Dec. 22 - 3:08 pm
Fri. 12/19/25
Thu. 12/18/25
Wed. 12/17/25
BPA responding to widespread weather-related outages
Bonneville Power Administration - 12/17/25 2:50 PM

PR 16-25                                                           

BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025

CONTACT: Kevin Wingert, 971-207-8390

 

BPA responding to widespread weather-related outages
Region-wide weather system posing challenges on lower-voltage BPA lines, utility distribution lines

 

Portland, Ore. – Bonneville Power Administration experienced over 40 transmission outages across its service territory due to extreme weather experienced in the early morning of Dec. 17.

 

Bonneville crews are at various stages of identifying outage causes and making repairs as needed with several points of delivery serving BPA’s utility customers out of service.

 

On Tuesday night, a strong cold front collided with much warmer than average air, resulting in widespread gusty winds that coupled with already saturated soils and trees.

Impacts to BPA’s electric grid were mostly felt in lower voltage ranges of 115-kilovolt lines and below. BPA crews are responding to outages across our service territory, with a heightened focus on outages impacting communities along the Oregon northern coast and southwestern Washington, including Driscoll, Astoria, Tillamook and Forest Grove. BPA is working in conjunction with PacifiCorp and local impacted utilities such as Wahkiakum Public Utility District, Tillamook People's Utility District, City of Forest Grove, Western Electric Co-op and others.

 

BPA crews have identified numerous off-right-of-way trees in both transmission and distribution lines across our service territory.

 

To enable as many resources and crews as possible in response to this event, BPA suspended all non-critical, life-safety related maintenance outages across its service territory. Additionally, any lines that were out of service for routine maintenance were returned to service to ensure transmission capacity and availability to reroute power as needed.

 

Many of BPA’s customer utilities are experiencing significant impacts on their own distribution systems, and BPA is actively working through mutual assistance aid agreements to provide help where needed.

 

About BPA: BPA is a federal non-profit power marketing administration that delivers reliable, affordable and carbon-free hydropower produced in the Columbia River Basin to communities across the Northwest. BPA also owns and operates more than 15,000 circuit miles of high-voltage transmission lines and administers one of the largest, most comprehensive fish and wildlife conservation programs in the United States. More information about these and other activities is available on our Media Relations page.

 

###

Kevin Wingert: 971-207-8390 or kwingert@bpa.gov; or BPA Media Team: 503-230-5131 or mediarelations@bpa.gov

| Bonneville Power Administration
Mukilteo Elementary and Olympic View Middle schools are closed today, Dec. 17, 2025. (Photo)
Mukilteo SD - 12/17/25 6:18 AM
Mukilteo School District Logo
Mukilteo School District Logo
http://www.flashalert.net/images/news/2025-12/4249/185676/Lhouse_1ln_ctr_k.jpg

Due to power outages, Mukilteo Elementary and Olympic View Middle schools are closed today, Dec. 17, 2025. 

All other Mukilteo School District schools are open and on schedule.

Julianne Repman, Communication Director
repmanJD@mukilteo.wednet.edu



Attached Media Files: Mukilteo School District Logo

| Mukilteo SD
Tue. 12/16/25
BLM FY 2025 timber sales in Oregon and Washington net over $67 million (Photo)
Bureau of Land Management Ore. & Wash. - 12/16/25 9:00 AM
Timber from BLM-administered forests supports local communities, domestic lumber production, and forest resilience. BLM photo.
Timber from BLM-administered forests supports local communities, domestic lumber production, and forest resilience. BLM photo.
http://www.flashalert.net/images/news/2025-12/5514/185650/3086847603588705041.jpg

PORTLAND, Ore. The Bureau of Land Management in Oregon and Washington wrapped up fiscal year 2025 with a standout timber performance. Across Oregon and Washington, the BLM exceeded its annual goal and, in support of the President’s promise of increased timber production, offered 15% more timber than in fiscal year 2024. In total, BLM Oregon/Washington sold 241 million board feet of timber for $67,049,012 from October 2024 – September 2025. 

 

“This year’s timber efforts show what the BLM can achieve,” said Barry Bushue, BLM Oregon/Washington State Director. “We exceeded the timber target goal established in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Next year, the BLM is offering even more timber, which means supporting more rural jobs and improving forest health.” 

 

The sales support the BLM’s commitment to the nation under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the President’s order to increase domestic timber production 

 

The timber sold in fiscal year 2025 could build more than 15,000 homes and support about 3,400 jobs across western Oregon.  
 

“America has significant timber resources, and Oregon and Washington have some of the best timber in the world,” said Bushue. “BLM timber sales ensure we retain our domestic lumber supply and reduce reliance on other imported building supplies.” 

 

In addition to new sales, in fiscal year 2025 the BLM facilitated the harvest of 250 million board feet of timber valued at nearly $66 million, a 7% increase in harvest volume and 9% more in revenue than fiscal year 2024. These harvests include sales that were purchased over the previous four years, reflecting years of planning and collaboration with purchasers and operators in the community. 

 

“Our foresters and partners in local communities are the reason for this successful year,” Bushue added. “Together, we’re building a stronger future for Oregon’s forests, one timber sale and acre at a time.” 

 

In western Oregon, the BLM manages 2.4 million acres of some of the most productive forests in the world, and is committed to supplying a reliable, secure, and resilient domestic supply of timber. BLM forestry supports economic security, reduces risks from wildfire, conserves fish and wildlife habitat, and decreases costs of energy production. Local communities rely on jobs that come from BLM forests, and timber from public land feeds local industry. 

 

Each year, sales managed by the BLM’s forestry program in Oregon and Washington support local jobs and generate more than $1 billion for local economies. Revenue from timber sold on O&C lands is shared between the U.S. Treasury and 18 western Oregon counties. This funding provides local communities with the means to construct new county buildings; develop fairgrounds and museums; support libraries, schools, and jails; and build flood-control dams and reservoirs. 

 

-BLM- 

 

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. 

 

 

blm_or_wa_press@blm.gov



Attached Media Files: Timber from BLM-administered forests supports local communities, domestic lumber production, and forest resilience. BLM photo.

| Bureau of Land Management Ore. & Wash.