The Chelan County Public Utility District in Washington state has signed a 20-year contract with energy firm Avista Corp. to provide renewable power from its two hydro projects on the Columbia River.
Avista will receive 5% of the output from the PUD’s Rock Island and Rocky Reach hydropower projects from 2026 through 2030. It will increase to 10% of the output from these projects between 2031 and 2045. The contract includes carbon-free energy supply from hydropower projects as well as dispatchable capacity to meet Avista’s peak energy requirements.
The contract will increase Avista’s carbon-free resources and help it achieve its 2030 renewable energy goals. Moreover, it will contribute flexible capacity to the energy needs of Washington and Idaho.
Avista’s senior vice president of energy resources, Jason Thackston said, “It’s another important step on our way to serving customers with 100% clean electricity by 2045 and 100% carbon neutral resources by 2027.”
PUD General Manager Steve Wright added, “We see great value in this partnership with Avista as it delivers more clean, renewable, reliable hydropower to customers in the Pacific Northwest. Increasing commitment to decarbonizing the electric sector, particularly in the western U.S., is increasing the value of hydropower.”
Wright also said the contract increases the PUD’s wholesale revenue, which supports low customer-owner rates and amenities like broadband services and our parks.
