GOLDENDALE – The Washington Department of Ecology is seeking comment on a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Goldendale Energy Storage Project adjacent to the Columbia River in Klickitat County.
Free Flow Power Project 101, LLC proposes to construct a hydropower project consisting of two reservoirs at different elevations connected by a tunnel with reversible turbines.
Water released from the upper reservoir to the lower reservoir would generate power when other energy sources, such as wind and solar, are not available. The site takes advantage of proximity to the power grid at the nearby John Day substation in Oregon. During off-peak hours, renewable energy would be used to pump water back to the upper reservoir.