Government and Policy News

Seattle seeks seasonal power exchange for 101-MW Lucky Peak hydro project

Municipal utility Seattle City Light invites proposals from utilities and power marketers to exchange a fixed amount of fall and winter electricity for spring and summer electricity produced by the 101-MW Lucky Peak hydroelectric project on Idaho’s Boise River.
Seattle seeks seasonal power exchange for 101-MW Lucky Peak hydro project

Municipal utility Seattle City Light invites proposals from utilities and power marketers to exchange a fixed amount of fall and winter electricity for spring and summer electricity produced by the 101-MW Lucky Peak hydroelectric project on Idaho’s Boise River. Proposals are due Dec. 9.

Seattle City Light is the 10th largest publicly owned utility in the United States serving nearly 1 million Seattle residents. It purchases electricity from the Lucky Peak project (No. 2832), licensed to Boise-Kuna, Nampa & Meridian, New York, and Wilder irrigation districts in Idaho and Big Bend irrigation district in Oregon and located at a dam operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Most of Lucky Peak’s electricity is generated in spring and summer irrigation season, while Seattle City Light’s customers use more electricity during the winter than the summer.

“This exchange would provide us with more power when our customers have their greatest need,” City Light Power Management Director Wayne Morter said.

In addition to the Lucky Peak energy, the exchange would deliver all the environmental attributes associated with carbon-free generation, Seattle City Light said. Since Lucky Peak was built before 1997, it does not qualify as a new renewable energy resource under Washington’s renewable energy portfolio standard, but it might in some other states, the utility said.

Proposals are due by noon, Pacific time, Dec. 9. For information, see Seattle City Light’s Internet site under www.seattle.gov/light/resourceacq.