RICHLAND, Wash. – Energy Northwest and the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) are collaborating on a major project to enhance the Pacific Northwest’s energy supply.
According to an Energy Northwest release, BPA recently approved a $700 million Extended Power Uprate (EPU) project for the Columbia Generating Station near Richland, increasing its output by 162 megawatts by 2031.
This new development is expected to power approximately 125,000 homes, fortifying the Pacific Northwest’s energy portfolio, Energy Northwest said in the release.
Bob Schuetz, CEO of Energy Northwest, praised BPA’s decision, stating, “Their leadership in supporting this initiative underscores a commitment to affordable and carbon-free electricity for the Northwest region, including our public power member utilities and their customers.”
The Columbia Generating Station is the only operating nuclear energy plant in the region. The EPU will involve equipment upgrades, such as turbines and generators, while maintaining safety standards.
This will result in an increase of 186 megawatts, including 24 megawatts of energy-efficiency improvements during refueling outages in 2027, 2029, and 2031, Energy Northwest said.
Michael Goff, Department of Energy Acting Under Secretary for Infrastructure, highlighted the broader energy vision.
“This project exemplifies the energy vision for America by unleashing new power generation for the people of the Pacific Northwest without raising costs,” Goff said.
