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Grant PUD Diesel Facility Nets Additional Megawatts and Profits
Reserve Capacity Assists Water Quality and Fish
July 11, 2006
EPHRATA – Grant PUD increased power generation at Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams this summer by using the utility’s diesel facility for reserve power production. To date, this practice has generated over 11,000 additional megawatt-hours and realized a net value of more than $200,000.
“This year, elevated river flows have increased the level of total dissolved gas in the Columbia River and increased the amount of water spilled over both Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams for fish passage and reservoir control,” said Joe Lukas, Grant PUD assistant general manager. “The additional capacity realized at the Grant PUD diesel site partially mitigates for both of these issues in addition to providing a cost benefit to the utility.”
By utilizing the diesel site as reserve generation capacity for Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams, the utility is able to generate more power through the two hydroelectric projects. Traditionally, Grant PUD reserves capacity at the projects, which results in lost generation from water spilling over the dam instead of moving through the turbines.
Elevated total dissolved gas levels are caused by spill events at seven dams on the Mid-Columbia River and by other sources upstream of the international border. Water plunging from spill creates high levels of total dissolved gas, which can cause "gas bubble trauma" in fish.
Grant PUD spills water over the two dams to meet juvenile fish passage goals established by NOAA Fisheries Biological Opinion for the Priest Rapids Project. In addition to this commitment, the utility spilled more of the river in 2006 due to lack of powerhouse capacity to meet river flows caused by high levels of melting snow-pack.
“We operate with the belief that power generation and fish protection are compatible and sustainable,” said Lukas. “In this instance, we were able to find a creative solution to solve two issues in the river while achieving a favorable outcome for Grant PUD and our ratepayer-owners.”
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Grant County Public Utility District is a Washington state municipal corporation that began electric service in 1942. Owned by the people it serves, Grant PUD generates and sells electricity to Grant County residents and millions of customers throughout Central Washington and the Pacific Northwest. The Priest Rapids Project, comprised of Priest Rapids and Wanapum Dams, produces nearly 2,000 megawatts of clean, renewable and reliable electricity – enough to supply a city the size of Seattle. A leader in science based technology; Grant PUD is committed to finding effective measures for the protection, mitigation and enhancement of salmon, steelhead and other natural and cultural resources. |
