The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a 40-year- license for the proposed Goldendale Energy Storage project. Developer Rye Development made the announcement on Thursday. It’s an important step forward for the project, but also represents just one of many permitting hurdles that must be cleared for it to move forward, with environmental and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reviews still to come. The pumped storage hydropower project would be at the site of a former aluminum smelter near Goldendale. It would store electricity for up to twelve hours and generate 1,200 megawatts of on-demand electricity, enough to power about 500,000 homes. Developers say the project is expected to create more than 3,000 family-wage jobs during its four- to five-year construction period, as well as dozens of permanent jobs. Rye Development says the project is expected to generate more than $10 million annually for Klickitat County.
Goldendale Energy Storage Project Receives FERC License
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a 40-year- license for the proposed Goldendale Energy Storage project. Developer Rye Development made the announcement on Thursday. It’s an important step forward for the project, but also represents just one of many permitting hurdles that must be cleared for it to move forward, with environmental and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reviews still to come. The pumped storage hydropower project would be at the site of a former aluminum smelter near Goldendale. It would store electricity for up to twelve hours and generate 1,200 megawatts of on-demand electricity, enough to power about 500,000 homes. Developers say the project is expected to create more than 3,000 family-wage jobs during its four- to five-year construction period, as well as dozens of permanent jobs. Rye Development says the project is expected to generate more than $10 million annually for Klickitat County.
TD Public Works Schedules Sewer Work On Federal Street
The Dalles Public Works will begin work on Monday to replace and upgrade a sewer main on Federal Street between East 1st and East 2nd. There will be a full closure of Federal Street between East 1st and the alley between East 1st and East 2nd from Monday through Friday of next week. Parking lots on East 1st will remain open and accessible. Pedestrian and sidewalk access will remain open through the duration of this work. Work hours are from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on each scheduled work day. The street will remain closed after work hours until the work is complete. Proceed with caution in that area during street closures.
January 22 Prep Basketball Roundup
Boys Basketball
Hood River Valley 61, Putnam 48: The Eagles pulled away in the second half to win their second straight game. Putnam led by seven midway through the second quarter, but Hood River came back to lead 25-22 at halftime, and controlled the game from there. J.J. Poole scored 19 points to lead HRV, Talon Britt tallied 15, and Grant Dunn scored 14. Nehemian Overton-Pittman led the Kingsmen with 15.
Nixyaawii 66, Dufur 45
Girls Basketball
Putnam 44, Hood River Valley 38: The Eagles struggled shooting the ball both from the field and at the free throw line. Both Lucy Warren and Jada Eatman scored 18 for Putnam, while Emily Doss led the Eagles with 17.
Columbia 36, LaCenter 23: The Bruins move to 8-2 in the Trico League.
Trout Lake 45, Irrigon 33
Dufur 55, Nixyaawii 49
January 21 Prep Sports Roundup
Boys Basketball
Kalama 66, Columbia 62
Girls Wrestling
Hood River Valley 54, Canby 18: Ayleen Marquez, Asai Akhmedova, Xiomara Gordian-Gomez, and Valeria Solorio Campos all scored wins by fall for the Eagles.
Boys Wrestling
Canby 54, Hood River Valley 21: Copeland Louis and Rury Pelayo Ceja scored wins by fall for HRV.
Ballots For White Salmon Schools Bond To Go Out
Ballots will go out on Friday to voters in the White Salmon Valley School District for both a 21-year $77.8 million bond to create a K-12 campus at the current middle and high school site that would replace Whitson Elementary, and a three-year renewal of the Educational Programs and Operations Levy. District Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn says approval of the bond, which has an estimated property tax impact of $1.66 per thousand dollars of assessed value, would qualify the district for $34 million in state funding for the project, and bring operational savings as well. The EP&O levy rate would move up slightly from $1.57 per thousand to $1.61. Polkinghorn pointed out they are not seeking a capital levy in this election because they are asking for the bond measure. Ballots must be returned or postmarked by February 10.
Port of HR Staff To Discuss Sternwheeler Docking In Marina
The Port of Hood River Commission gave staff the go-ahead to move forward on discussions to allow a sternwheeler being acquired by Mt. Hood Railroad to use the commercial ship dock in the Marina on a per visit basis, but also had plenty of questions about compatibility with current uses. Commission President Heather Gehring said she had strong reservations about the vessel coming into the harbor with a narrow corridor leading to a multi-use area. Commissioner Tor Bieker said starting out on a per visit basis would be a good way to test the viability of the plan so they make can an informed decision on whether to do it on a permanent basis. Commissioner Ben Sheppard said had a lot of questions to be answered before he would enter into an agreement, including safety and environmental concerns, and also would not be in favor of anything that would lead to exclusive use of the marina for lengths of time.
Klickitat County Environmental Health Fees To Rise
Klickitat County’s Board of Health, which includes the County Commission, voted to raise the fee schedule for environmental health services. County Public Health Director Erinn Quinn said the fee schedule had not had an overhaul since 2014, and there has been 37% inflation in that time along with increased requirements from the state of Washington. The new fees will go into effect on March 1. Quinn added the intent moving forward would be to review the fees on an annual basis.
January 20 Prep Basketball Roundup
Boys Basketball
Hood River Valley 56, Centennial 46: The Eagles finished the game on an 18-8 run to upset the tenth-ranked team in the 5A coaches poll. J.J. Poole scored 16 points, Talon Britt 14, and Grant Dunn 12 to lead Hood River. JeMel Baker led Centennial with 12.
Fort Vancouver 84, Stevenson 30
Ione-Arlington 63, Trout Lake 25
Condon 49, Horizon Christian 41
South Wasco 68, Lyle-Wishram 50
Klickitat-Glenwood 81, Spray-Mitchell-Wheeler 54
Dufur 40, Sherman 28
Girls Basketball
Hood River Valley 43, Centennial 17: Emily Doss scored all 11 of her points in the second half as HRV used a 16-2 third quarter to pull away. Hood River limited Centennial to just 9 points over the first three quarters.
Columbia 49, Kalama 39: The Bruins run their record to 7-2 in the Trico League.
Fort Vancouver 61, Stevenson 18
Trout Lake 50, Ione-Arlington 40
Dufur 43, Sherman 28
Condon 33, Horizon Christian 27
Hood River School Committee To Look At Facility Priorities
The Hood River County School District’s Long-Range Facilities Planning Committee will be meeting this week to discuss priorities for a potential November bond measure after spending the last year examining the district’s various building needs. District Superintendent Bill Newton says they have developed a list of about $200 million worth of projects, and now they need to decide what is most important to get done, and how big a bond measure district voters would be comfortable with. Newton noted during their fact-finding tours, needed improvements to heating and air conditioning systems stood out, particularly with warming temperatures during shoulder seasons.