Origin Story – Bringing Power to our Region [VIDEOS]
Our grid is tied to one of the largest hydropower projects in the world–third largest, actually. 85% of the energy to our little corner of the world stems from the combined hydroelectric generation project spanning the Columbia River in eastern Washington and beyond. It may be a waterway and mountain range beyond, but we all live downstream.
Hydropower from the Columbia is a perfect example of clean, carbon-free energy. Water flowing freely from generation facility to generation facility on its way to the ocean is used and reused to power millions of homes and businesses throughout the northwest.
But how do you ensure the energy goes where it is suppose to and, most importantly, does it safely? That’s where strategically-placed substations and switchyards enter the equation.
Now we’re on the Homefront. Energy has successfully scaled a mountain range, navigated numerous switchyards, and is in the home stretch, landing at one of Jefferson PUD’s substations. From here the process is much the same–though scaled down considerably–as high voltage power weaves its way through our in-county equipment, eventually landing at your home meter at a comfortable (useable) 240V.