Dave Kvamme, PacifiCorp
503-813-7279
Jim Esget, Bureau of Reclamation
509-575-5848, ext. 267
August 22, 2002
PacifiCorp, Bureau of Reclamation Reach Agreement on Sale of the Naches Hydroelectric Project
YAKIMA, Wash. – PacifiCorp and the Bureau of Reclamation announced today they have reached an agreement in principle whereby the Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau) will purchase the water rights and the associated equipment and facilities of PacifiCorp’s Naches Hydroelectric Project located in Naches, Washington.
The facilities include the eight-mile-long Wapatox Canal that also serves local irrigators. The Bureau will assume perpetual responsibility for serving irrigation customers along the canal, but will close the Naches and Naches Drop hydroelectric facilities and return the portion of water used for hydro generation to the Naches River to support recovery of endangered fish species.
PacifiCorp will begin seeking approval from state regulators and expects to be able to close the sale in two-to-three months once approvals are obtained.
“We’re pleased with the purchase because it restores critical habitat for steelhead and salmon in the Naches River,” said Jim Esget, Yakima River Basin water enhancement project manager, Bureau of Reclamation.
“This is a good business decision for our customers,” said Randy Landolt, managing director of PacifiCorp’s hydro resources department. “The Naches Projects are small and they no longer generate electricity cost effectively. We can obtain power from other sources at lower cost to serve customers’ needs.”
The Naches project is capable of producing up to 7.8 megawatts, but rarely does so because of water restrictions. Even with the sale, PacifiCorp still owns and operates about 8,200 megawatts of generating capacity to serve its 1.5 million customers.
The Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Columbia Area Office, has as its mission to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public.