Current power generation report

Klickitat PUD has a small hydro plant along side the fish ladder at McNary Dam, generating about 13 percent of the PUD's current power load.

At the plant's dedication Randy Knowles, speaking for the Klickitat PUD board, gave special thanks to Tom Svendsen, the PUD's Power Manager. Tom was part of a committee that oversaw project spending and construction progress. “At last count, the project had well over $1 million left in the construction budget, thanks to this committee,” Randy told the crowd at the dedication.

He also noted that history has shown the wisdom of investing in power generation projects. Washington’s Mid-Columbia PUDs -- located in Chelan, Douglas and Grant counties -- have the lowest rates in the state because they invested in generating projects three decades ago, he explained.

“We want to make investments that our customers can live with today, that their children will think we were pretty smart, and their grandchildren will think we were geniuses,” Randy added.

In the short term, power from the McNary plant is slightly more expensive than wholesale power from BPA. In the long term the plant will provide low cost, locally-owned power, he explained. “Making the investment today means the PUD’s customers will reap those benefits in the future,” he added.

Klickitat PUD owns the plant along with Northern Wasco PUD in The Dalles, Ore. It is located on the face of McNary Dam, near Umatilla, Ore. It uses the water flow that attracts fish to the fish ladder to generate power with a 10 megawatt turbine generator. After generating power, the water is returned to the fish ladder.

As a bonus, the plant replaces a high pressure, turbulent system so that migrating fish caught in the attraction flow also benefit. Without the plant in place, nearly all of these fish were killed; with the plant, 85 percent or more are expected to survive.

McNary Dam Facts

Cost
$29 million
Capacity
10 megawatts
Output
75 million kwh a year
Energy Source
The 1,750 cubic feet per source second flow of water that attracts fish to McNary Dam fish ladder 

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