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.
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.
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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???
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
I remember your last post explaining the wonderful power system and rates in your area. That's certainly something to be thankful for!
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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.
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
Thanks, Carol, for the information on your area.
Take care, be safe and enjoy the holiday season.
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
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.
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Carol Williams
Wenatchee, WA
Hi Ron and Alexandra Seigel
We are very fortunate! Have a lovely Thanksgiving week.
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.
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.
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
Hi Endre Barath, Jr.
The hydroelectric industy has been a huge blessing in so many ways.
Hi Kat Palmiotti
It seems like a little thing but it goes way beyond low power bills. The benefits reverberate throughout our economy.
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Kat Palmiotti
Kalispell, MT
Hi Brian England
Solar power is a no-brainer in Arizona, isn't it? LOL
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Brian England
Gilbert, AZ
You're welcome, Roy Kelley
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving week.
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Roy Kelley
Gaithersburg, MD
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.
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Nina Hollander, Broker
Charlotte, NC
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.
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.
Hi Carol:
Well, I certainly learned a few things about your dams...that's alot to be thankful for!
Jeff
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