Seattle City Light’s owned and operated hydroelectric facilities typically supply more than half of our customers’ power needs, and more than 80% of the electricity we deliver to our customers comes from hydroelectricity. But hydropower is more than just renewable electricity.
This week, we are observing National Hydropower Day by sharing how hydroelectric power is key to cleaner communities, local job creation and a dependable clean-energy future.
Hydropower Is Key to Cleaner Communities
As the foundation of our area’s electricity system, hydropower delivers clean power to the Pacific Northwest. As a renewable resource, hydropower has and will continue to play a critical role in helping us reach our clean-energy targets. What’s more, some of our hydroelectric projects also serve as water reservoirs for the Seattle metropolitan area.
The Chester Morse Reservoir at the Cedar Falls Hydroelectric Project provides about 70% of the domestic water supply to approximately 1.4 million people. The reservoir’s water flow is also managed to provide favorable instream flow conditions for salmon and steelhead reproduction.
The South Fork Tolt River Hydroelectric Project is was completed in 1996 to leverage the Seattle Public Utilities Tolt Reservoir and Dam. The Tolt Reservoir has been providing approximately 30% of the drinking water to the Seattle area since 1964.
Hydropower also helps preserve natural ecosystems and provide recreational opportunities for everyone. For instance, many are surprised to learn that generating power isn’t our first priority for the Skagit Hydroelectric Project – which generates about 20 percent of Seattle’s electricity. This short video outlines our priorities for the three-dam system on the Skagit River:
Hydropower Is Key to Local Job Creation
Hydropower not only powers our communities but is also a significant job creator. Across the country, the hydropower industry employs approximately 66,500 workers, a number projected to grow to 120,000 jobs by 2030 and 158,000 by 2050.
At City Light, we have a dedicated team that strives to meet our customers’ changing expectations in an evolving energy ecosystem. By creating jobs, we help fuel local economies and empower the communities we serve. Hydropower employees maintain recreation and wilderness areas, allowing people to work and play knowing that hydro not only supplies clean energy but also provides places for community to gather.
In 1917, the Department of Agriculture approved City Light founder J.D. Ross to build a series of dams on the Skagit River — Diablo, Gorge and Ross — thus creating the Skagit Hydroelectric Project. Today, approximately 100 employees live and work at “the Skagit,” from power plant operators to clerks at the General Store.
The Skagit is also home to City Light’s famed Skagit Tours. The tours provide seasonal job opportunities and the chance to witness the beauty of the North Cascades while learning about local ecosystems and dam operations.
We are proud to employ so many hard-working professionals and celebrate their passion and dedication for providing clean, renewable energy.
Hydropower Is Key to Our Dependable Clean Energy Future
Hydropower accounts for 90% of the renewable energy in our region. Plus, it helps reliably integrate intermittent renewables, like solar and wind, into the power grid. This means hydropower keeps your lights on when the sun has set and the wind isn’t blowing. It also supplies flexible power during periods of high energy demand.
The Boundary Hydroelectric Project is key to our goal to create a clean energy future. It provides clean, reliable electrical power for Seattle, its surrounding communities and for customers throughout the western United States. Of City Light’s hydroelectric plants, Boundary generates more power than the others combined. That means fewer greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner air to breathe and better health.
The Boundary Hydroelectric Project is key to our goal to create a clean energy future. It provides clean, reliable electrical power for Seattle, its surrounding communities and for customers throughout the western United States. Of City Light’s hydroelectric plants, Boundary generates more power than the others combined. That means fewer greenhouse gas emissions, cleaner air to breathe and better health.
City Light customers enjoy some of the cleanest, most dependable energy available due to the investments we’ve made over the last century. While our system has been reliable, we acknowledge that a changing climate has an impact on our resources.
For instance, although the Sourdough Fire is limiting production from our Skagit Hydroelectric Project, our hydroelectric system continues to provide flexibility and resiliency to meet customer demand. Our teams are working around the clock to keep our available assets running and ensure costs are kept in check.
Hydropower is essential to strengthening the grid. It provides not only clean, but affordable energy for our customers. As we work toward our clean energy future, we are grateful for the hydroelectric resources we steward and are proud to continue providing our customers with cleaner communities and dependable energy.