Only Nuclear Power Plant in U.S. Northwest Set to Add Generating Capacity

The only commercial nuclear power plant in the U.S. Pacific Northwest is set for a $700-million upgrade that would add nearly 200 MW of generation capacity. The Columbia Generating Station in Richland, Washington, with a current capacity of 1,207 MW, will undergo an extended power uprate (EPU) that will be done during the plant’s next three biennial spring refueling outages in 2027, 2029, and 2031.

The project is a collaboration of Energy Northwest, which owns and operates the Columbia facility, and the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). The Columbia station received its first operating license in December 1983, and entered commercial operation a year later, with a 40-year operating license. The power plant in 2012 received a 20-year operating license renewal, extending the facility’s operations until at least December 2043.

BPA on May 20 approved the EPU project, which would increase Columbia’s generation capacity by 162 MW by 2031. Additional energy efficiency upgrades would boost the station’s output by another 24 MW, for a total increase of 186 MW. The Columbia station features a General Electric BWR-5 (boiling water reactor).

“We applaud BPA for its decision to approve this project and for its strategic vision in advancing our region’s future with additional, reliable capacity that nuclear energy can provide,” said Bob Schuetz, CEO of Energy Northwest, a joint operating agency of Washington state that serves as a consortium of public power utilities. “Their leadership in supporting this initiative underscores a commitment to affordable and carbon-free electricity for the Northwest region, including our public power member utilities and their customers.”

Enhancing Reliability of the Power Supply

Energy Northwest in a May 22 news release said increasing the capacity of Columbia Generating Station will enhance “the reliability of the region’s power supply and contributing to a sustainable future,” noting that “the combined efforts of both organizations [Energy Northwest and BPA] will ensure that the Pacific Northwest continues to benefit from affordable and secure electricity, supporting the needs of regional customers.”

BPA serves consumer-owned utilities across six states in the U.S. Northwest.

“This is a great value for ratepayers in the Pacific Northwest,” said BPA Administrator and CEO John Hairston. “Upgrading an existing resource to provide additional reliable energy will help BPA keep pace with its customers growing electricity needs and keep rates low.”

Michael Goff, the acting undersecretary for Infrastructure at the Dept. of Energy, said, “This project exemplifies the energy vision for America by unleashing new power generation for the people of the Pacific Northwest without raising costs.”

Energy Northwest said the plan to increase reactor output at Columbia was approved by BPA on Tuesday after 18 months of analysis. The two groups will collaborate on planning and implementation of the improvements to the nuclear power station. As noted earlier, Energy Northwest owns and operates the Columbia station, though BPA markets the electricity produced at the plant, and is responsible for costs included in the revenue requirements of the power services rate structure.

Work at the facility during the project will involve replacing and upgrading reactor equipment, including turbines, heat exchangers and the generator, according to Energy Northwest. BPA in a workshop presentation in April of this year provided details of the EPU, noting, “With the implementation of the Extended Power Uprate and efficiency improvements, Columbia is anticipated to have an output of ~1,393 MWe post 2031 outage.” BPA said it anticipates modifications will be needed on major pieces of equipment at the plant, but much of the work would coincide with equipment replacement that already was planned. The groups said about 30 individual upgrades are expected, work that will primarily focus on increasing the size of pumps and motors.

—Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.