Latest news with #PUD-owned
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Grant PUD commissioners approve 20-year solar power production contract
Apr. 15—EPHRATA — A solar power project that received a construction permit in 2020 is projected to be producing electricity by late 2027. Grant County Public Utility District commissioners approved a power purchasing agreement with Quincy Solar on April 8. The facility will generate 120 megawatts of power per year on a site located between the Grant County International Airport and the PUD's Rocky Ford substation. The PUD will receive all of the power generated by the facility. The contract will be in effect for 20 years. The PUD will pay an estimated $70-$72 per kilowatt-hour. That compares to $20- $30 per kilowatt-hour for power produced by the PUD-owned Wanapum and Priest Rapids dams. Rich Flanigan, PUD chief customer officer, said the price reflects current market trends. "We've actually seen prices increase for solar over the last five years (due to) inflation and tariffs that have been put into place," Flanigan said. "Also, it's a little more expensive in Washington state, because of the (state-mandated generation goals) and the contracting requirements." Quincy Solar originally applied for a development permit on the project in 2020. "That project has been out there for a while," Flanigan said. "They've been looking for some off-taker." Flanigan said the contract will help the PUD meet its state-mandated renewable energy goals, one of which requires the utility to generate at least 15% of its electricity from renewable sources. "There are a lot of different things that comply with that," he said. "Some of it is solar, some of it is wind (generation) if it's within what they call the Columbia River Basin." The PUD has existing contracts with suppliers to help meet the goal. Some hydropower generation also qualifies, he said. "At both Priest Rapids and Wanapum (dams) we've put in what we call fish bypass, and that allows us to spill less water for (salmon recovery) purposes. So, we get the benefit of that energy that we technically would be spilling if we hadn't done that," Flanigan said. The PUD will spend about 20 years upgrading turbines and generators at the two dams, a project that should be completed by the end of the decade. Flanigan said the electricity generated through increased efficiency also counts toward the state-mandated targets. The second state mandate requires 80% of the PUD's electricity to be generated by sources that don't produce greenhouse gases, he said. Mitigation of some kind is required for the other 20%. If the facility doesn't reach the anticipated capacity, Quincy Solar will have to pay damages until it does, according to the agreement approved by the commissioners. The Port of Moses Lake has industrial property in the vicinity, but Port Manager Dan Roach said Monday the Quincy Solar facility is not on port property. It is on property that fits the criteria for solar projects, said Grant County Development Director Jim Anderson-Cook in an earlier interview. Companies are looking for property that's not currently irrigation farmland or otherwise developed but that has been used in the past. Regulations require developers to take access to electrical transmission capacity into account also.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
World's first nuclear fusion power plant in US close to historic ignition test
Helion Energy, an Everett-based fusion energy company, has announced plans to construct the world's first fusion power plant in Malaga, Washington. The company is working towards developing a 50-megawatt fusion power plant on land owned by the Chelan Public Utility District (PUD) near Rock Island Dam, along the Chelan County side of the Columbia River. While the site has not been officially finalized yet, discussions are progressing, and the company plans to further engage with the community for this pioneering project. The announcement was made during a joint press conference at the Confluence Technology Center in Wenatchee. The public event featured Helion Communications Director Jessie Barton, Chelan PUD's Kirk Hudson, Chelan County Community Development Director Deanna Walter, and Jim Kuntz of the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority. They discussed their respective agencies' roles in exploring the potential for carbon-free energy sources in Chelan County. 'We're looking at developing a 50-megawatt fusion power plant on PUD-owned land, near Rock Island Dam, on the Chelan side of the Columbia River,' said Barton. 'Now, this isn't an official site selection at this point, but we are at the point where we're ready to bring in more community members and have a larger conversation about this potential project.' A community event is planned for March 11 at Mission View Elementary School, where additional details about the project will be shared. The company has set an ambitious timeline, aiming to begin construction this summer if the permitting process proceeds without delays, to generate fusion energy by 2028. From Chelan PUD's perspective, this project is a key component of a broader strategy to meet future energy demands and expand beyond hydropower, which has traditionally been the region's primary energy source. 'We have all of our eggs in one basket with hydropower, which has served us very well, but the future is going to be much different than the past has been,' said Chelan PUD's Kirk Hudson. Initially, the fusion energy produced will support a purchase agreement with Microsoft, with long-term plans to make this clean energy accessible to local customers. The PUD remains optimistic about the project's growth and success, aiming for its benefits to extend to residents of Chelan County and the broader north-central Washington region. Formal discussions regarding agreements with Helion, including potential lease terms, are expected once the company is ready to begin construction. Helion Energy anticipates hiring approximately 130 workers during the initial construction phase, with around 30 staff needed for ongoing plant operations once the facility is complete. In May 2023, Helion Energy announced a groundbreaking deal with Microsoft, marking the world's first commercial agreement for fusion energy. Under this agreement, Helion aims to provide Microsoft with electricity generated from its fusion power plant by 2028. The deal underscores confidence in Helion's advanced fusion technology and its potential to deliver a reliable, carbon-free energy source. This partnership aligns with Microsoft's sustainability goals, aiming to secure clean energy for its operations. Helion's progress has been further bolstered by significant funding, including a major investment in January 2025, to accelerate the development and deployment of fusion energy technology. With the planned fusion power plant in Malaga, Washington, Helion is taking significant strides toward making fusion energy a reality, reinforcing its commitment to revolutionizing the energy landscape by 2028.
