There will be an on-site environmental review on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at the ranch as well as two public scoping meetings: Aug. 9 and Aug. 10 at 7 p.m. at Oregon Tech in the Mt. Mazama Room of the Student Union Building.

About the project

The Swan Lake Pumped Storage project — as it is called — is about 12 miles northeast of Klamath Falls. It will have the ability to generate up to 400 megawatts of electricity for up to 10 hours each day, using a closed-loop pump-turbine system that connects two newly constructed reservoirs.

One reservoir will sit at a higher elevation than the other, allowing for gravity feed of water to the turbines. Once the water is in the lower reservoir, it is pumped back to the upper one when the turbines are not generating electricity.

Construction is anticipated to start in 2019 and be completed in 2023. EDF Renewable Energy of Portland is the developer and owner. The site is on private and Bureau of Land Management land.

Greg O’Sullivan of Klamath County Economic Development Association said the project is expected to generate $2.1 million in county tax revenue annually.

The project is pegged at $700 million and is expected to create 3,000 jobs during the course of its construction. It will provide 30 permanent jobs annually — 11 directly at the site and others in the local area during its planned 45-year operation.

The direct economic impact on the county would be $22 million during construction, EDF said.

Concerns raised

Some concerns that were raised in the initial release of information have been addressed, according to a press release from EDF. For example:

• The project has been scaled down, requiring less water overall and making it more feasible;
• The reduction in size means it will be less visible to local residents;
• The revised plans no longer involve the Poe Valley, resolving concerns about environmental impacts in that sensitive area;
• The water that will be used to fill the reservoirs and then supplement due to evaporation will not require new water resources. It will be redirected from its existing use and will not affect those in the area who rely on water for irrigation;
• Power poles from the project will be 100 feet tall, rather than 190 feet as originally proposed;
• Wherever possible, the powerlines will follow existing rights of way, natural divisions and agricultural boundaries;
• The power line will run about 32 miles, generally southeast from the project site, west of Dairy and Bonanza, east of Bryant Mountain, to Bonneville Power Administration Malin substation.

To read this article or others on the Herald and News website, please refer to the link below:

Comments Sough on Pump-Storage Project (Herald and News)