Port of Moses Lake power project about to enter second phase

MOSES LAKE - The next phase of a project to build electrical generation facilities at the Port of Moses Lake should be a follow-up study to determine what's economically, technically and legally feasible. That was the recommendation of a report delivered to port commissioners Monday.

"We addressed the question, what is the opportunity, and can we validate the energy park as an investment and multi-infrastructure platform? And the answer is 'yes,'" said Jason Demers of Sol Coast Consulting.

Port officials announced in December they are exploring construction of their own electrical generating capacity and commissioned a "pre-feasibility" study to see what's possible. Demers said the follow-up study will determine how to tap the potential. One possibility is to start a consortium that would, or could, include all Port participants.

The need for more electricity is prompted by increased interest from businesses in Moses Lake, at a time when available power from the Grant County PUD is reaching its limit.

The pre-feasibility study identified a variety of possible energy sources, ranging from tapping geothermal resources to natural gas generation to using farm byproducts like straw as a possible source. Another possibility is using byproducts from one business to power operations of another.

Shannon Souza of Sol Coast Consulting said other possibilities include some reworking of the existing power lines, especially on East Wheeler Road, which is an area of potential development.

Those options will be part of the follow-up study to determine which are the most feasible. Port officials and the consultants have been talking with state and federal officials, and Richard Hanover, the port's director of business development, said there is interest in what the port is doing, with the possibility of obtaining some grant money to help fund the studies.

Demers said the project would have a better chance of success if the port and PUD work together, and to that end, the consultants will discuss the project with PUD commissioners next week. Port Commissioner Kent Jones said he was, and is, in favor of cooperation.

Jones said PUD commissioners have made clear that one of their primary concerns is what the PUD refers to as core customers. Those include residential customers, businesses that use less than a specific amount of electricity and irrigators.

"If I get to make a comment, I'm probably going to talk to them about the fact that we're all talking about the same customers. Because when they start talking about protecting their people, their (customer) classes out there, they're talking about people who work in all these plants," Jone said. "We're all talking about the same people."

Jones asked if the report includes an analysis of possible obstacles, what he called landmines. "Kind of what it tells you is what isn't going to work," Demers said.

Commissioners will consider a contract June 22 for the second phase of the project. "It's a very interesting project," he said.

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