Crystal-Greenwater area electric system improvement projects

Project update

PSE’s Greenwater Tap project continues to move forward. We are currently in the planning and design phase to install several miles of new power line that will run underground along Highway 410. In the meantime, we are making other system improvements needed to support our Greenwater area upgrades.

The Crystal Mountain Generating Station, completed in 2025, is successfully providing backup power to Crystal Mountain Ski Resort and Greenwater customers.

Project overview

We proudly serve Greenwater and continue to build and maintain electric infrastructure, including upgrading transmission, distribution lines and substations. Together, these projects are increasing reliability for customers in the Greenwater and Crystal Mountain area by improving access for maintenance and repair crews, relocating infrastructure away from washout areas, improving system performance during inclement weather and emergencies, and gaining more protection from tree-related outages.

As this work progresses, PSE will continue to provide updates to the community. We will notify residents and businesses near the project area before construction occurs. We aim to complete the work with as little disruption as possible.

Current project

Greenwater Tap:

Existing power lines along Highway 410 near the White River

We are currently planning and designing upgrades to the Greenwater Tap, which provides electricity to the Greenwater and Crystal Mountain communities. We plan to install approximately 9.9 miles of new (34.5 kV) power line underground along Highway 410, through Federation Forest State Park and Greenwater. We will then remove the existing (55 kV) power lines currently located on the south side of the White River.

Status:

• Currently in the planning and design phase.
• Construction tentatively scheduled to begin in 2027.
• Currently, we are upgrading the system in the north Pierce/south King County area. This upgrade is required prior to beginning the Greenwater Tap improvement work.

Completed work

Crystal Mountain Generating Station:

This project, completed in 2025, installed equipment to provide backup power to Greenwater and Crystal Mountain Resort.

Crystal Mountain Generating Station

We have upgraded the Crystal Mountain Generating Station, a 2.5 MW diesel power plant that supplies backup power to Crystal Mountain Ski Resort. During an outage or planned maintenance, the station can operate as a microgrid that’s independent from the main electrical system and maintain seamless power to customers without any service interruptions.

Other completed projects:

• Undergrounded about 3 miles of distribution line from Hwy 410 toward Crystal Mountain (2021)
• Upgraded about 2 miles of line with tree wire (2019)
• Relocated an existing 34 kV line out of the floodplain (2015)
• Upgraded sections of existing overhead distribution line (2013)
• Replaced aging utility poles (2010)