News Release Archive

Reclamation Awards $5 Million Contract for Material Storage Building at Grand Coulee Dam

Media Contact: John Redding, (208) 378-5212, jredding@usbr.gov
Lynne Brougher, lbrougher@usbr.gov

For Release: March 21, 2011

The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded a $5 million contract to construct a material storage building adjacent to the Third Powerplant at Grand Coulee Dam located on the Columbia River about 90 miles west of Spokane, Wash.

The contract was awarded to Graham Construction & Management, Spokane, Wash., on March 16, 2011.

The 22,000 square foot material storage building will provide the space necessary to house turbine and generator parts as they are removed during the overhaul of the Third Powerplant. The new single-story building will provide a secure space for these valuable and easily damaged spare parts.

"Building this new storage building is the first step in a multi-year, multi-million dollar project to update and improve this part of our national renewable energy infrastructure," said Reclamation Commissioner Michael Connor. "Besides the new construction and the long-term benefit to power production, more money will be infused into the local communities."

The six generating units in the Third Powerplant have been in service since the mid-1970s. Age-related wear is creating problems, resulting in increased power outages and reduced reliability. The overhaul project will ensure continued operation of the powerplant and allow Reclamation to provide a reliable source of hydroelectric power to the region.

The Third Powerplant Overhaul Project is anticipated to be completed in Fiscal Year 2021 at a cost of nearly $1 billion. The project is being funded by the Bonneville Power Administration and the costs are roughly equivalent to one year of power revenue at Grand Coulee Dam.

Grand Coulee Dam was completed in 1941, it is a key feature of Reclamation`s Columbia Basin Project in central Washington. It is a multi-purpose project that provides flood control, irrigation, hydropower production, recreation, stream flows, and fish and wildlife benefits. The project has three powerplants, a pump-generating plant, and three switchyards. Power generated at the project is marketed by BPA.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.