Gorge wind farms could store power in reservoir

GOLDENDALE — A small utility plans a $2.5 billion water reservoir system near Goldendale as a way to store energy generated by Columbia River Gorge wind farms.

The pumped storage system would pump water uphill when there’s electricity to spare and release it through turbines to generate power when it’s needed.

The Klickitat Public Utility District has begun applying for a license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Yakima Herald-Republic reported Tuesday.

With just 11,000 customers, the utility doesn’t need a facility of that size, but it has the site to build one. It would be located at the site of an aluminum smelter that closed more than a decade ago. Major transmission lines are nearby.

Although it’s near the John Day Dam, the project would have little impact on the Columbia River. It would be a closed system, recirculating the water between one lower and two upper reservoirs. The only water needed would be to replace evaporation.

The system will use more electricity than it generates. The advantage is the ability to sell the power when it’s in demand and prices rise, project leader Brian Skeahan said.

The PUD is hoping larger utilities in Oregon and California will invest in the project.

Getting the backers, license and permits and finishing smelter clean-up work is likely to be a long process. The PUD hopes to begin construction in 2020.