Your PUD
News Release
Energy Secretary Chu hears from Chelan PUD manager on clean hydro advantages
Chelan County PUD
News Release
10/5/2009
The message about hydropower having a big role to play in future energy decisions was delivered in person Friday afternoon by Chelan County PUD General Manager Rich Riazzi as he participated in a regional roundtable discussion attended by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu.
Moderated by Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the Seattle discussion involving 15 regional business, labor and utility leaders was designed to highlight the possibilities for green jobs in Washington state and to focus on opportunities the clean energy sector can provide for the economy and the American people.
Riazzi told the group that hydropower can play a significant role in the development of renewables both in terms of providing clean renewable power and integrating intermittent renewables into the power grid.
He said Chelan County PUD has made significant investments to modernize hydro generating facilities, increasing efficiency and improving output by generating more power with the same amount of water. The PUD has also made significant investments in fish bypass systems to make facilities fish friendly.
Riazzi said the PUD has been recognized by the Chicago Climate Exchange as the first hydro facility in the United States that is providing carbon offsets in the market.
“In terms of next investments as we use up the capacity of our hydro system for integration of intermittent renewables,” Riazzi said, “we will need to look at other sources such as pumped storage. These resources have long lead times, extensive permitting requirements and will require the development of public-private partnerships to handle the risk associated with investments of this magnitude. We need to begin forging those relationships now.”
Other participants at the roundtable included Nancy Sutley, chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, Don Guillot, business manager for IBEW Local 77, and representatives of Puget Sound Energy, Washington State University and other regional businesses and utilities.
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Steve Lachowicz
Communications director
509-661-4639, direct line
509-679-0148, cell
steve.lachowicz@chelanpud.org