Feds approve PUD’s two small hydroelectricity projects

EVERETT — Federal energy regulators have given a green light to Snohomish County Public Utility District to build two small hydroelectric projects in the Snoqualmie Valley.

Work on the sites could start later this summer, followed by major construction next year, said Scott Spahr, a PUD manager who oversees all engineering work on the district’s energy generating facilities.

“In essence, we have all the permits to begin work,” he said.

The projects are estimated to cost a combined $52 million, and should be finished and generating electricity by 2017, he said.

During winter storms and spring months, the Calligan Creek and Hancock Creek projects will each create about 6 megawatts — enough energy for about 10,000 homes. They won’t produce energy during much of the summer, when the streams will be too low, according to the PUD’s license applications filed in 2013 with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The Hancock project is estimated to cost $28 million, while Calligan is expected to run $24 million. Both creeks flow into the North Fork of the Snoqualmie River near the I-90 corridor in east King County.

The projects are run-of-the-river hydroelectric facilities, meaning the river isn’t dammed. Instead, water is diverted through a pipe to generating turbines and back to the stream.

The peak amount of energy will be less than 1 percent of the PUD’s overall power load, Spahr said.

The amount of energy generation is not worth the environmental effects, critics say.

Several conservation groups commented on the projects during the FERC review process.

The PUD has not proven that these projects are necessary, said Rick McGuire, vice president of the Alpine Lakes Protection Society. The group advocates for conservation programs in the Cascades in Washington.

“All the good hydro sites have already been taken,” he said. These PUD hydro projects “are really scraping the bottom of the barrel.”

McGuire and other critics say the PUD’s generation estimates are best-case scenarios. The actual contribution will be smaller, and will come at the same time dams across the Pacific Northwest are churning out electricity.

“The PUD has not proven its case that these projects are needed,” he said. “There’s no electricity shortage.”

The district looked at sites from four counties — King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties — before settling on Calligan and Hancock. They were chosen, in part, because there would be low environmental effect, Spahr said.

The projects are among several small-scale hydroelectric facilities that the PUD has built or is developing. The district buys about 80 percent of its energy from the Bonneville Power Administration, which runs several dams on the Columbia River.

PUD-owned hydro facilities produce about 5 percent of the utility’s energy needs.

The district is developing small-scale hydro as part of its climate-change policy, which emphasizes using renewable resources. However, the projects will not be displacing any carbon-producing energy production.

Hydroelectric is not considered renewable under Washington’s renewable energy mandate, which voters passed in 2006. Initiative 937 requires utilities get at least 15 percent of their energy from wind, solar and other renewable sources.

The PUD is already meeting that benchmark, said Neil Neroutsos, a district spokesman.

Dan Catchpole: 425-339-3454; dcatchpole@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @dcatchpole.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Southbound lanes on Highway 99 reopen after crash

The crash, on Highway 99 at 176th Street SW, blocked traffic for over an hour. Traffic was diverted to 168th Street SW.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.