Units served as reserve power

EPHRATA — The Grant County Public Utility District commission authorized the sale of 20 diesel generators purchased in the spring of 2001 to help with anticipated power shortages in the Northwest and low-water conditions on the Columbia River.

The vote Tuesday to surplus the diesel generators was split 3-2, with Commissioners Vera Claussen and Tom Flint opposed. Commissioners Bill Bjork, Greg Hansen and Randy Allred were in favor.

The district's management staff is now authorized to contact interested purchasers. Already some potential buyers, including buyer representatives interested in reselling the generators, contacted the district about a purchase, said PUD spokeswoman Rita Bjork Tuesday, following the commission's regular meeting.

The 20 generators, including two needing repair, are to be sold along with related equipment, Bjork said. The PUD pays more than $5,600 per month to maintain the units. Bjork did not provide the PUD's 2001 purchase price for the generators. The district is now seeking a minimum of $8 million through the sale approved Tuesday.

The PUD increased power generation at Priest Rapids and Wanapum dams during this summer by using the 32-megawatt diesel generator farm, located along Randolph Road near the Grant County International Airport, for reserve power production.

Power generating utilities are required to hold a certain amount of power generation back as reserve capacity. If a major power plant in the Northwest suddenly shut down, the reserve capacity at others would be called upon to make up the shortfall.

By using the diesel site as reserve generation capacity for the dams, the utility is able to generate more power through the two hydroelectric projects. Traditionally, the PUD reserves capacity at the dams, resulting in lost generation from water spilling over the dam instead of moving through the turbines.