Grant PUD revels in new license for dams

WANAPUM DAM - Before about 150 guests, Grant County PUD reveled in successfully renewing a federal license to own and operate its Columbia River dams on Thursday.

The celebration at Wanapum Dam came four months after the utility received the official word about its new 44-year license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

The application process took five years and a variety of people including neighboring utility employees, government officials, tribes and politicians turned out for the celebration.

Wanapum Tribal Leader Rex Buck Jr. led the invocation for the event.

The Wanapums have lived in the area from "way back, from ancient times," he said.

"The celebration is truly a coming together to move forward," Buck said. "We have many challenges ahead of us."

Power comes with a price and some items are nonnegotiable, which includes protecting the resources for future generations, he said.

Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., said "achieving the federal government OK on anything is a difficult task, let alone a 44-year license. I know that process has been challenging and I'm sure at times, frustrating."

Hastings congratulated Grant PUD General Manager Tim Culbertson for testifying in Washington, D.C. a few months ago "before those who want to take away hydropower."

Hastings mentioned the success of the Vernita Bar Agreement and added that he heard the fall Chinook run is expected to be "very, very good" this year.

The agreement concerns the amount of water spilled over Priest Rapids Dam during the salmon spawning period. Vernita Bar is described on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's Web site as "a prolific spawning site for fall Chinook salmon."

The dams provide the area the means for economic and industrial growth, which includes the data centers in Quincy and enough firm power to keep wind plants operating reliably, he said.

Grant County PUD Commission President Tom Flint also spoke and thanked Hastings for being a champion of hydropower in Washington, D.C. and of the utility.

Flint recognized the district's employees, saying "without you, we wouldn't be here today to celebrate the new license." He also spoke of the utility's positive relationship with the Wanapums.

"It's been a privilege and an honor for me to be part of this," he said. Flint added the license demonstrates the utility can have it all, with fish and renewable hydropower.

Flint asked the audience to bow for a short moment to remember three Grant County residents who died in the past year, retired Grant PUD Commissioner Vera Claussen, former Grant PUD Manager Larry Peterson and Ephrata farming pioneer Bob Holloway. Flint also recognized Culbertson's predecessor Don Goddard for his work.

Culbertson called the new license "a historical, monumental achievement."

He said it was a "strong and bold vision to develop the Priest Rapids project."

It wasn't believed the project could be done because of less expensive options like putting a load on Bonneville Power Administration's system, he said.

"They overcame those obstacles when they said it couldn't be done," Culbertson said.

Deb Louie of the Colville Confederated Tribes Business Council said salmon and steelhead issues are addressed in an agreement that's included in the new license.

Louis said the tribe lost one of its big fisheries when Grand Coulee Dam was built and spoke of the building of the Chief Joseph Dam. She added the agreement in the license was very important to the Colville Tribe.

Bob Lohn, regional administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service, commented on the real efforts and sacrifice of the people who made the license possible.

Lohn said the license isn't just for low-cost energy, but energy that makes the clean fresh air around us possible.

The license means Grant County residents will continue to receive some of the lowest electrical rates in the country, the PUD asserted in a prepared statement.

But the cost of carrying out the license requirements is expected to cost about $1 billion over 44 years, which will increase the dams' power costs.

To learn about the new license initiatives, register online at www.gcpud.org for a newsletter called "The Briefing Room."