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Economic and dam related articles

Nuclear Power Plant Near Richland
Generates More Electricity Than Ever Before

by Annette Cary
Tri-City Herald, January 4, 2018

Steam rises from Energy Northwest's Columbia Generating Station, the region's only commercial nuclear power plant, near Richland, Wash., in a 2003 file photo. (The Associated Press photo) The nuclear power plant near Richland set a new record in December for electricity generated in a single month.

Energy Northwest said the Columbia Generating Station sent more than 867 million kilowatt-hours of electricity to the Northwest power grid last month, beating the previous record of about 862 million kilowatt hours in January 2016.

Recent upgrades to the nuclear plant and good teamwork by employees were responsible for the new record, said Alex Javorik, Energy Northwest vice president for engineering. Energy Northwest owns and operates the plant.

In addition, the plant performs most efficiently during the cold months of winter. After steam is used to generate electricity, it is turned back into water for reuse. Cold weather makes the cooling more efficient.

Columbia Generating Station is the third largest generator of electricity in Washington state. Its electricity is sold at cost to the Bonneville Power Administration and distributed to 92 Northwest utilities.

Related Pages:
Richland Nuclear Plant Sets Generation Record by Annette Cary, Tri-City Herald, 1/4/17
Nuclear Power Plant Near Richland Generates More Electricity Than Ever Before by Annette Cary, Tri-City Herald, 8/11/15


Annette Cary
Nuclear Power Plant Near Richland Generates More Electricity Than Ever Before
Tri-City Herald, January 4, 2018

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