Washington adopts data-driven tools to plan underground power corridors

(UI) — Washington’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) is using new digital tools to guide statewide planning for high-voltage transmission infrastructure, including underground lines, substations, and related facilities.

To support the initiative, WSP USA developed a Spatial Decision Support framework as part of a statewide programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS). The model applies multi-criteria decision analysis to integrate environmental, social, technical, and economic factors into location-based evaluations.

“We took all the technical and nuanced information and turned it into something that our client and the public can easily use—clear visuals and intuitive tools that allow readers to understand something complex, without having to be a subject matter expert,” said Mary Kristen, senior GIS consultant at WSP.

The system uses heat maps to identify areas best suited for new high-voltage infrastructure, helping reduce environmental risk and permitting delays. It also powers two public-facing platforms: an ArcGIS StoryMap that visualizes statewide resource sensitivities and an impact-summary portal where users can draw potential corridors and instantly receive impact reports.

“This type of offering is both powerful and flexible,” Kristen said. “Whenever there are competing goals, constraints, stakeholder perspectives and regulatory requirements, applying a digital solution like the one we used for EFSEC translates complexity into actionable, justifiable decision-making.”

WSP’s collaboration with EFSEC marks a major step toward modernizing environmental review and permitting in Washington, setting a precedent for transparent, data-driven planning of critical power infrastructure.

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