At a time when rising inflation and interest rates are creating hardships for businesses and families, the Goldendale Energy Storage Project represents a huge opportunity. An investment in our future, it is on target to receive its 50-year operating license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in 2023. It would bring more than 3,000 family-wage construction jobs and apprenticeships and dozens of long-term operations and maintenance jobs to rural Washington.
The Goldendale Energy Storage Project represents a new era for the former Columbia Gorge Aluminum Smelter, which spans from the Columbia River to the Tuolumne Wind Farm 8 miles east of Goldendale. It would clean up a toxic waste site and provide millions of tax revenue to support our schools, our health care system, our roads, our parks and more. All while delivering carbon-free energy for our homes, businesses, schools and hospitals.
Since the Columbia Gorge Aluminum Smelter closed in 2003, Klickitat County has worked hard to create a long-term plan to bring back good-paying jobs to the town of Goldendale and surrounding areas.
The Goldendale Energy Storage Project deserves our support, and the support of our elected officials in Olympia.
