Hydroelectric Plants in Washington
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Bonneville-1 Location: WA Operator: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Configuration: 10 X 53 MW Kaplan Operation: 1938-1982 T/G supplier: SMS, GE Quick facts: Bonneville Lock & Dam is on the lower Columbia River in the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area. There are two powerhouses -- one started operation in 1938 and the second in 1982. On 20 Jul 2010, the plant was rededicated after a 17yr, $140mn retrofitting effort. USACE replaced 21 transformers, rewound all 10 generators, replaced all 10 turbine runners with fish-friendly models, rebuilt the switchyard, repaired wicket gates, bridge cranes and rails, and replaced all 10 electrical governors.
Photograph courtesy of USACE |
Boundary Dam Location: WA Operator: Seattle City Light Configuration: 4 X 138 MW, 2 X 200 MW Francis Operation: 1967-1986 T/G supplier: Nohab, GE, Toshiba Quick facts: Boundary Dam on the Pend d'Oreille River is a 340ft high, 740ft long thin-arch dam. The dam is 32ft thick at its base and 8ft thick at the crest.
Photograph courtesy of Seattle City Light |
Diablo Dam Location: WA Operator: Seattle City Light Configuration: 2 X 75 MW Francis Operation: 1936-1937 T/G supplier: SMS, WH Quick facts: When it was dedicated in 1930, Diablo Dam was the world's highest at 389ft.
Photograph courtesy of Seattle City Light |
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Elwha Dam Location: WA Operator: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Configuration: 2 X 3 MW, 2 X 3.3 MW Francis Operation: 1914-1922 T/G supplier: WSM, WH EPC: L L Summers and Co Quick facts: The Elwha River flows northward from the Olympic Mountains to the Straight of Juan de Fuca near Port Angeles. The upper watershed of the Elwha River is located within Olympic National Park and within a Wilderness Area. The Elwha River is the fourth largest river on the Olympic Peninsula. The mean annual runoff is 76 inches. Private companies constructed two large dams on the Elwha River during the early 1900s, Elwha Dam and Glines Canyon Dam. Elwha Dam, constructed from 1910-13, is a 105ft high concrete gravity dam that forms Lake Aldwell 8mi upstream from the river's mouth. When the dams were first built, they were significant producers of electricity on the Olympic Peninsula. Today, the dams generate about 40% of the electricity needs for the Diashowa America paper mill in Port Angeles, Washington. The two dams have no facilities for the upstream passage of anadromous fish and in 1994 their removal was agreed to improve the regional fishery. In 2000, the U.S. Department of the Interior purchased Elwha and Glines Canyon Dams in preparation for their removal. The power stations were closed on 1 Jun 2011.
Photograph by C Harmon (Panoramio) |
Glines Canyon Dam
Photograph courtesy of U.S. National Park
Service |
Grand Coulee Location: WA Operator: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Configuration: 18 X 125 MW, 3 X 600 MW, 3 X 805 MW Francis Operation: 1941-1974 T/G supplier: Newport News, Williamette Iron & Steel, WH, CGE EPC: USBR, MWAK Co, Consolidated Builders -- 3rd phase, Vinnell, Dravo, Lockhead, Mannix Quick facts: This is the largest power plant in the USA and its 550ft high, 5,223ft long gravity dam is one of the largest concrete structures in the world containing just under 12mn yd³ of concrete. Development started in the 1920s and the design evolved from a low-head dam to a high-head structure by the time final authorization and funding was received in 1935.Construction started on 16 Jul 1933 and completed in Jul 1942. The first phase, 150,000hp turbines were shipped 5,000mi by sea from Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Co as they would not clear rail tunnels on a direct route. They were the largest hydro turbines in the world at the time, records eclipsed by the third-phase turbines in the 1970s. The T/G sets have been modified and upgraded over the years.
Photograph by Gregg M Erickson (wikipedia) |
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Ice Harbor
Photograph courtesy of USACE
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Koma
Photograph courtesy of Covanta
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Lake Chelan Location: WA Operator: Chelan County PUD No 1 Configuration: 2 X 24 MW Francis Operation: 1927 T/G supplier: SMS, GE EPC: Stone & Webster Quick facts: The first dam built to raise the level of Lake Chelan was completed in 1892, but washed out and was replaced the following year by another structure built by the newly formed Chelan Water Power Co in 1893. The company was taken over in 1899 by Chelan Electric Co in 1906, which in turn was purchased by Washington Water Power Co in 1925. A year later, Washington Water Power received a 50yr license to construct the existing dam and powerhouse. The first generating unit was placed in commercial operation in Sep 1927, followed by the second unit 11mos later. The steel-reinforced concrete gravity dam is approximately 40ft high and 490ft long. Water is sent to the powerhouse by a 2.2mi underground penstock. The powerhouse is 140ft long and 124ft. The original turbines were replaced in 1985 and 1986.
Photograph courtesy of Chelan County PUD No 1 |
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Little Falls
Photograph courtesy of Avista Corp |
Little Goose
Photograph courtesy of USACE
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Long Lake
Photograph courtesy of Avista Corp |
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Lower Granite Photograph by Doug Thiele and courtesy of USACE
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Lower Monumental Photograph courtesy of USACE
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Mayfield Location: WA Operator: Tacoma Power Configuration: 4 X 40 MW propeller Operation: 1963 T/G supplier: AC, Voest, Siemens Allis EPC: Harza Engineering Co, Tacoma Power, Arundel Dixon Corp Quick facts: Development of the Cowlitz River for hydroelectric power production dates to 1923 when the City of Chehalis obtained rights from the state. In 1926, the city sold its rights to a private investor, who in 1933 obtained a permit to build a dam at the Mayfield site. This project did not advance and in 1946, Tacoma Power acquired the the development rights and applied for a permit from the Federal Power Commission. In Nov 1951, the FPC granted a 50yr license to build and operate Mayfield and Mossyrock dams and construction at Mayfield got underway in Jul 1955. The Mayfield Dam was completed in 1962 and formed the 2,250ac Mayfield Lake, now a year-round recreation destination. The dam is 850ft long and 185ft high. An 860ft tunnel connects the reservoir to the powerhouse. Total cost of the dam was $44.5mn.
Photograph courtesy of Tacoma Power |
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Mossyrock Location: WA Operator: Tacoma Power Configuration: 2 X 150 MW propeller Operation: 1968 T/G supplier: Newport News, ASEA EPC: Harza Engineering Co, Dravo Corp, Al Johnson Construction Co Quick facts: Mossyrock Dam is the tallest in Washington state at 606ft. In Jun 2006, GE Energy was selected to upgrade the two units. Two new turbines will be fabricated and installed by 2009. GE will also replace the wicket gate seals, exciters, and generator stator, refurbish the rotors, and modernize the governor with a new digital control system. The Mossyrock reservoir is known as Riffe Lake and is 23mi long.
Photograph courtesy of Tacoma Power |
Priest Rapids Location: WA Operator: Grant County PUD Configuration: 10 X 95 MW Kaplan Operation: 1959-1961 T/G supplier: EE EPC: Harza, Merritt-Chapman & Scott Quick facts: Priest Rapids is a concrete and earthfill dam 10,103ft long. Dam and power plant construction cost $166mn and started in July 1956.
Photograph courtesy of Grant County PUD |
Rock Island Location: WA Operator: Chelan County PUD Configuration: 1 X 15 MW, 3 X 20.7 MW, 6 X 22.5 MW Kaplan, 8 X 51.3 MW bulb Operation: 1931-1978 T/G supplier: AC, GE, Neyrpic, Alsthom EPC: Stone & Webster Quick facts: Rock Island was the first dam to span the Columbia River and is near the geographical center of Washington State. In Dec 1928, an application was filed with the FPC for site investigation and a license application was submitted in Jun 1929 by Washington Electric Co, a subsidiary construction corporation of Puget Sound Power & Light, then an affiliate of Stone & Webster Corp. The license was authorized in Oct 1929 and construction started in Jan 1930. The dam, powerhouse and first four operating units were turned over on 1 Feb 1933. Installation of six additional units began in Jul 1951 and was completed in Apr 1953. Construction of a second powerhouse to supply Alco started in Aug 1974 and finished in Aug 1979. At completion, its bulb turbines were the largest in the world. The scheme includes a 590ft gravity dam section is in front of the left bank fishway and connects to a 870ft headwork incorporating the first powerhouse. The spillway is divided by the center fishway and has a total length of 1,424ft. and connects to the 470ft second powerhouse structure.
Photograph courtesy of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
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Rocky Reach Location: WA Operator: Chelan County PUD Configuration: 7 X 111.2, 4 X 125.4 MW Kaplan Operation: 1961-1973 T/G supplier: AC, WH, Dominion Bridge EPC: Stone & Webster Quick facts: Chelan County PUD received a preliminary FPC permit for the Rocky Reach project in Aug 1954 and a construction license was issued in Jul 1956. The first seven units were placed in operation on 1 Nov 1961, six months ahead of schedule. The original project cost $273.1mn. In May 1968, the FPC authorized the installation of four more units. These were planned after ratification of the Columbia River Treaty and make use of water released from Canadian reservoirs and the Libby Dam reservoir in Montana. Construction of the second phase began in Apr 1969, completing 1 Dec 1971. All 11 units at Rocky Reach are equipped with adjustable blade turbines and the District is in the midst of a major modernization and rehabilitation project.
Photograph by Garrett Fitzgerald (Wikipedia) |
Ross Dam Location: WA Operator: Seattle City Light Configuration: 4 X 90 MW Operation: 1952-1954 T/G supplier: Neport News, Baldwin Southworks, WH EPC: Columbia Construction Co (Kaiser), General Construction Co Quick facts: Ross Dam, originally Ruby Dam, is a 540ft high, 1,300ft long arch dam on the Skagit River. It forms a lake 24mi long, which can store 11.5mn acre-ft of water.
Photograph courtesy of Seattle City Light |
Roza Location: WA Operator: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Configuration: 1 X 12.9 MW Francis Operation: 1958 T/G supplier: PWW, AC Quick facts: The Roza Division is a 72,500ac tract north of the Yakima River supplied with irrigation water by the Roza Canal. The Roza power plant is adjacent to the Roza Canal.
Photograph
courtesy of USBR |
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Wanapum Location: WA Operator: Grant County PUD Configuration: 10 X 104 MW Kaplan Operation: 1959-1961 T/G supplier: Dominion Engineering, GE EPC: Harza, Grant County Constructors (Morrison-Knudsen) Quick facts: Wanapum is a concrete and earthfill dam 8,637ft long. Power plant construction cost $195mn and started in Jul 1959. A new-design, six-blade turbine from Voith Siemens has been installed as part of the U.S. Dept of Energy's Advanced Hydroturbine Program. All 10 T/G sets are expected to be changed out by 2012 at a cost of about $150mn.
Photograph courtesy of Grant County PUD |
Wells Location: WA Operator: Douglas County PUD No 1 Configuration: 10 X 77.4 MW Kaplan Operation: 1967-1969 T/G supplier: AC Quick facts: PUD No 1 of Douglas County was organized in 1936 and began operations in 1945. The design of the Wells project is unusual in that the generating units, spillways, switchyard and fish passage facilities are combined into a single 1,130ft long structure. The project includes the Wells Hatchery just west of the dam and two 41mi, 230kV single-circuit transmission lines to Douglas Switchyard near Rocky Reach Dam. The Wells Reservoir is 29.5mi long.
Photograph courtesy of Douglas County PUD No 1 |
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Data: industcards, Platts UDI World Electric Power Plants Data Base
Updated 06/01/11
