Geothermal energy potential eyed by mid-Columbia PUDs

WENATCHEE – Chelan, Douglas and Grant County PUDs are considering a partnership to explore the potential for geothermal energy in North Central Washington.

The proposal reflects a shared goal to “meet regional energy needs through innovation, and deliver resilient, affordable energy for generations to come,” the three mid-Columbia public utility districts said in a press release Monday.

The proposed collaboration comes as a new study released this month shows that Washington and Oregon are at risk of a 5-gigawatt energy shortfall by 2030. In the greater Northwest, including Idaho and Montana, a 9-gigawatt energy shortfall is predicted.

In the coming weeks, commissioners from each PUD will review a proposal to study the geology and underground heat in central Washington, including geophysical surveys and below-ground research. The agreement proposes that each PUD would pay an equal share of the estimated $22 million total. By working together, the PUDs gain access to high‑quality geophysical and subsurface data that would be far more expensive to obtain independently.

If approved, the PUDs would apply for permits from the state Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Ecology with a request to start data collection this summer.

As demand for electricity continues to outpace supply, utilities cannot add new energy generation and storage fast enough. Many of the planned additions are wind and solar energy, which are weather-dependent.

Geothermal energy is produced when hot water from the earth is brought to the surface, converted to steam, and run through a steam turbine. Geothermal is a baseload energy source, which means it’s reliable, even on the coldest days.

“We’re all trying to find new ways of generating and storing energy to meet a regional challenge,” said Chelan PUD general manager Kirk Hudson in Monday’s press statement. “The benefit of collaboration is to share the risks, the costs, and use our collective knowledge and experience to explore this opportunity together. As public utilities, we’re in a unique position to work together and gain a shared understanding of the potential for geothermal energy.”

Grant PUD general manager/CEO John Mertlich said he is looking forward to discussing the geothermal collaboration with his utility’s commission.

“Grant PUD staff have prepared a proposal for our commissioners to consider regarding this potential partnership to explore geothermal resources in our region,” Mertlich said. “We are looking forward to receiving guidance from our commission as we evaluate this opportunity together with Chelan and Douglas PUDs.”

Last month, Grant PUD commissioners were updated by staff on development of an Integrated Resource Plan, required by state law to describe how the utility district intends to meet customer demands for electricity from 2027 to 2046 while complying with Washington’s clean-energy requirements at the lowest-possible electric rates.

The process will include seeking public comment on the IRP prior to its approval by commissioners and submittal to state utilities officials by a Sept. 1 deadline.

Local PUD officials say customers’ electricity needs now exceed the generation capacity of the district’s two Columbia River dams, Priest Rapids and Wanapum, particularly during times of peak demand. To supplement its hydropower generation, the district has been looking at other sources of electricity. Currently, it has a trio of signed agreements for 460 megawatts of solar power and 260 megawatts of battery-stored energy that will be available in late 2027 and early 2028.

Long term, district analysts are continuing to study scenarios that include additional solar power, battery storage, geothermal power, “pumped-storage” hydropower, wind power, and various generation sources utilizing natural gas and small modular nuclear reactor technology.

 While it differs from steam turbine power generation, the Grant County Courthouse in Ephrata is heated using geothermal energy sourced from a deep well that taps an underground hot spring. The courthouse was retrofitted with the heat pump system in the early 1980s, following efforts by the state Department of Natural Resources to utilize geothermal resources in eastern Washington.