Your PUD PUD News Line

8/31/2005

Burch Mountain transmission-line update

PUD commissioners have authorized the purchase of steel poles, power line and ground wire for the new Burch Mountain transmission line. Plans call for construction of the $7 million, 8.5-mile line to start in April 2006. The route runs across Burch Mountain, north of Wenatchee, from Rocky Reach Dam to the Andrew York/Monitor Switchyard on Easy Street. Bids for construction will be sought early next year.

Before construction begins, PUD wildlife biologists will use radar and observation stations to determine how close migrating birds of prey may come to the route of a new line. The survey of migrating hawks, falcons and eagles – also known as raptors - will run from Aug. 30-Oct. 13. The state Department of Fish and Wildlife required the survey under terms of an easement to use state land for sections of the line.

Study results will identify flight corridors and heights of migrating raptors in relation to the transmission line. If it appears those routes will intersect the new transmission line, the PUD may add devices during construction to make the lines more visible to birds.

Columbia River dam paintings on display

Seattle painter John Moilanen will display large paintings of Columbia and Snake River dams, including Rocky Reach and Rock Island, at the Rocky Reach Visitor Center starting Aug. 29 through November. An open house and artist’s reception is planned for 6 p.m. on Oct. 6, at the Visitor Center.

From dams on the west side of the state, to the four Snake River dams and all the dams on the Columbia River, Moilanen’s paintings comprise one of the largest bodies of paintings on a single subject in the Pacific Northwest. He has received numerous commissions from the state arts commission for public artwork.

The Rocky Reach Visitor Center, seven miles north of Wenatchee on Highway 97A, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day through Thanksgiving. All exhibits are free.

New solar and wind incentive on the books

PUD commissioners are discussing possible expansion of the PUD’s Sustainable Natural Alternative Power.

The SNAP program, an award-winning alternative energy program, allows Chelan County residents to support solar and wind power from local producers. The program has vaulted Chelan County to being the largest solar-producing county in Washington state.

The state Legislature passed a new law this spring that allows the PUD to give funds, which had previously gone to a state utility tax, to county residents who produce power for SNAP. The new law also has incentives for alternative power producers to purchase Washington-made equipment, allowing larger credits.

The tax credit with Washington products would allow the PUD to pay up to $92,500 more for local producers, three times the current proceeds of the SNAP program.

Commissioners might be asked in the near future to approve adding the incentive to the SNAP program. Similar to conservation loans now offered by the PUD, low-interest loans might also be available in the future to pay for the equipment needed to start renewable power production.

Entiat getting more fiber optics

PUD fiber-optic crews expect fiber to be linked to more than 400 homes and businesses in Entiat over the next two months (as shown in blue on this map). Crews and contractors have already placed a fiber node and are busy pulling and splicing fiber to provide access by summer’s end. The Entiat School District has been benefiting from the District fiber network for almost two years.

Click here to see if fiber optics are in your area of the county. 

Celebrate salmon

Join Chelan County PUD in supporting the Wenatchee River Salmon Festival, Sept. 15-18, at the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery. The PUD will sponsor a festival favorite, fish printing, or gyotaku, and a native fish aquarium. Another PUD supported event is an authentic Native American encampment with beading, drumming and dancing. Click here to visit the festival’s Web site.

Stay in touch with your PUD

The PUD’s Web site is in the process of a much-needed overhaul, but in the mean time, we’ve made it easier to get important information about the PUD on one page. Go to our Web site, www.chelanpud.org, and click on the PUD logo at the top of the page to visit On the Record. You can also take a survey to help us improve our Web site.