GCPUD Press Release

Irrigation Program Expanded to Include More Acreage
150,000 additional acres to benefit from water management

March 19, 2007

EPHRATA - Grant County PUD's successful Irrigation Water Management Program has been expanded to provide water scheduling services to an additional 150,000 acres of irrigated farm ground in Grant County.

Financing for the added acreage comes from Bonneville Power Administration's (BPA) reimbursement-based conservation funding program. The Grant Conservation District is administering the new program.

Farmers can expect the three-year moisture monitoring and scheduling program to save them money in pumping and fertilizer costs. "Farmers who have participated in this program since it was first offered realized maximum crop yields and improvement in the quality of their product," said Frank Majer, Grant PUD's energy services specialist.

In addition to the expanded acreage, Grant PUD will continue to operate its long-standing Irrigation Water Management Program.

For information or to sign up for the expanded program, contact Roxanne Neilan at the Grant Conservation District, 754-2463, Ext. 5 or 488-2802, Ext. 5.

Grant PUD offers the Irrigation Water Management Program in conjunction with the Irrigation Hardware Program and the onion and potato storage VFD Program for farm/irrigation operations in Grant County. Contact Frank Majer at 766-2512 for incentives offered for each of these agricultural energy saving programs.

“Energy savings expected from the additional 150,000 acres participating in this program is enough to heat 700 average Grant County homes for an entire winter season,” said Majer.

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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.

Media Contact:
Rita Bjork
(509) 766-2530 / rbjork@gcpud.org