Protect Pushpum

Goldendale Pumped Storage project

FERC is moving toward approval of an application by Rye development to construct a pumped storage project at the site of the old aluminum plant at the Columbia River.  The upper reservoir of the proposed project will destroy an area known to the Yakama and other tribes as Pushpum – in English, Mother of All Roots.  This area has been continually under use by the Kah-Milt-Pah band of the Yakama Tribe, a tribal band that did not move to the reservation.  The area also has spiritual sites and was a trade center, so is of importance to other Columbia River tribes.  Construction of the lower reservoir, the generating station, and underground infrastructure will disturb

Additionally, there are rare and endangered plants species at the site, it is a known site for eagle nesting, and the upper reservoir inside the footprint of a wind farm.  The potential negative effects on raptors and other species is significant.

There are potential negative effects on the Columbia River.  The project will withdraw a large amount of water to start initial operation.  That water will have to be supplemented annually, because of evaporation loss from the two reservoirs.  The lower reservoir is in the vicinity of the highly contaminated aluminum plant site.  Rye Development has budgeted an inadequate amount of money for clean-up, so there remains the possibility of contamination of Columbia River water.

Economic projections for the project use unrealistic estimates of both kwh production and price.  Construction will require employment of about 3,000 people, most of whom will come from outside Klickitat County, causing significant problems of providing temporary housing and services.  Projections of tax revenue cannot be evaluated, given changing state regulations about how green energy projects are taxed.  Finally battery storage technology is gaining acceptance with lower costs, making this project, which will be expensive to construct, even less economically feasible.