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2021: 10 Days of Thanksgiving (Day 6)

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Education & Training with Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals.

Wenatchee is the Apple Capital of the World and the Power Belt of the Pacific Northwest.

I've written before about how affordable our power rates are in central Washington. This is a result of the plethora of hydroelectric dams that have been constructed all along the Columbia River from the Canadian border to the Ocean outlet between Washington and Oregon.
 

The red dots on the map to the left indicate the various major dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers in Washington and Oregon.  The Columbia River runs south through central Washington and makes a turn west at the southern border of Washington on it's way to the Pacific Ocean.  The river that run east at the southern border of Washington is the Snake River. The Shoshone Indian tribe was sometimes called the Snake Indians and that's how the river got it's name. The headwaters of the Snake is at Yellowstone Park, where the Shoshone's lived for many centuries.

There are also many more smaller dams on the smaller rivers and streams in the states. The state of Washington has the most hydroelectric dams in the United States, providing 37% of the hydroelectric production in the entire nation.

The three-county regions in Central Washington (Chelan, Douglas, and Grant) enjoy the least expensive hydropower rates in the entire United States.  They are publicly owned and managed by individual county Public Utility Districts. They fall under the regulatory power of the Federal Energy Regulary Commission. FERC's purpose is to regulate and oversee the economic, environmental, and safety interests of the American public. 

Our dams do more than provide affordable electricity. They also provide flood control, manage water supplies, many recreational opportunities
, and have a significant trickle down impact throughout the economy.

This is my sixth entry into the 2021 ActiveRain November Challenge, hosted by Debe Maxwell, CRS.

Posted by

Carol Williams

"Information is FREE.
Knowledge, Experience & Integrity Are Priceless."

- Carol Williams

Retired: Real Estate Broker/Owner, Property Manager 
Coaching, goal setting, and marketing consultant

Active: Golf & Travel Blogger
"Golf isn't a sport. It's a lifestyle."
SeniorWomenGolfers.com
TopTeamCarol@gmail.com
 

Happy March !




Comments (22)

George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Carol I have never seen a large dam in person.  My oldest son live about 30 minutes south of Seattle, the next time I am out there, I will need to make this dam one of the places to go see.

Nov 21, 2021 02:53 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Carol- dams are so interesting! When I see them, I wonder about how in the world they could have constructed one. Where do they put the water while they are building it???

Nov 21, 2021 06:00 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist I had to smile at your comment, I would be happy to explain to you off the platform why we do what we do.... Endre

Nov 21, 2021 11:01 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Indeed Carol this is something to be grateful for, and too bad other states are not looking out for the benefit of their people, Endre

Nov 21, 2021 11:01 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

I remember your last post explaining the wonderful power system and rates in your area. That's certainly something to be thankful for!

Nov 22, 2021 05:40 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I did not know that and learned quite a bit from reading your post just now.  I am looking forward to when the sun provides the majority of our power.

Nov 22, 2021 06:26 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks, Carol, for the information on your area.

Take care, be safe and enjoy the holiday season.

Nov 22, 2021 06:29 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Good morning, Carol... I learned so much this morning about dams from your post today. And I've garnered a whole new level of appreciation for their value.

Nov 22, 2021 06:32 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Ron and Alexandra Seigel 
We are very fortunate!  Have a lovely Thanksgiving week.

Nov 22, 2021 07:46 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist 
We are so fortunate here to have them controlled by PUD, instead of some government entity. I know how horrible it is other places.

Nov 22, 2021 07:48 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi George Souto 
This is actually one of 2 dams within 13 miles of my home. The granddaddy in the state is Grand Coulee about 50 miles away. If you come to Wenatchee, I'll take you up to the Rocky Reach Dam (8 miles north) for a tour.

Nov 22, 2021 07:53 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Kathy Streib 
I've wondered the same thing. It's an amazing engineering feat. I'm glad there are people smarter than me who figured it out.  LOL

Nov 22, 2021 07:58 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Endre Barath, Jr. 
The hydroelectric industy has been a huge blessing in so many ways.

Nov 22, 2021 08:06 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Kat Palmiotti 
It seems like a little thing but it goes way beyond low power bills. The benefits reverberate throughout our economy.

Nov 22, 2021 08:08 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Brian England 
Solar power is a no-brainer in Arizona, isn't it?  LOL

Nov 22, 2021 08:09 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

You're welcome, Roy Kelley 
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving week.

Nov 22, 2021 08:09 AM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Good morning Nina Hollander, Broker 
As I mentioned to Kat above:
It seems like a little thing but it goes way beyond low power bills. The benefits reverberate throughout our economy.

Nov 22, 2021 08:10 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Carol I watched a show not too long ago (might have been a Varney -American Built show) all about this system.  I remember you writing about it before and I find it all so facinating that they were able to create all of this way back when.  You are indeed very fortuate and it seems to be a very 'green'  system too - way ahead of the crowd.

Nov 22, 2021 09:22 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Sacramento is provided electricity by SMUD (Sacramento Municiple Utility District).  We were previously receiving power from PG&E.  Rates were through the roof.  However, in the 1960s, when we were switched to SMUD, our electric bills were cut nearly in half.  SMUD is a rate payer owned utility.

Nov 22, 2021 05:08 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Hi Carol:

Well, I certainly learned a few things about your dams...that's alot to be thankful for!

Jeff

Nov 23, 2021 04:45 PM