Energy Northwest is tackling resource shortage and climate change with small reactors | Opinion
Recently Energy Northwest announced an agreement with Amazon to undertake the initial work to potentially develop a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) adjacent to Columbia Generating Station. On behalf of the Energy Northwest Executive Board, I would like to express our profound appreciation to all the staff who were involved in forging this agreement.
For the past several years, Energy Northwest has vigorously explored options for securing financial support for SMR development. The agreement with Amazon now makes that a reality. It demonstrates how the public and private sectors can work collaboratively to achieve common goals. In the last few weeks staff has worked tirelessly with Amazon to produce a roadmap to guide our work for the initial stages of the project. Thanks to everyone for going the extra mile.
Why is this important? Energy Northwest is tackling a two-headed beast: electric resource adequacy and climate change associated with rising global temperatures. The Northwest has long relied on our abundant hydroelectric power, but with growing energy demand and phasing out of fossil fuel-based generation, we face the challenge of finding new sources of dependable energy. Already, our region is at risk of power shortages during extreme weather. The risks will only increase unless we act and develop new energy resources.
Seeing the news about recent hurricanes in the southeast, and wildfires in the southwest, there is clear evidence that these events are magnified in intensity due to rising temperatures in the oceans and the atmosphere. Carbon emissions from fossil fuel power generation are contributing to the problem by heating the planet.
To simultaneously address both issues, we need to take a variety of actions. We need a growing portfolio of clean energy resources. To keep the lights on we need new central station high-capacity resources that can be shaped to load and do not emit carbon into the atmosphere. That is where SMRs can come in.
These innovative reactors are designed to be modular – like an egg carton where each module is like a separate egg – and can be turned off and on relatively quickly to meet changing energy demands. And the new SMR technology we are pursuing is designed to be very safe to operate.
Developing SMRs is a complex journey, with many technical and regulatory steps ahead, but we are making progress in meeting the clean energy challenges of the future. Our goal is to have a project online in the 2030s. Our task is to develop new generation, while continuing to operate Columbia Generating Station in a safe, reliable and cost-effective manner. We’re committed to working for the Tri-Cities community and the whole region to develop new technologies such as SMRs, helping to ensure we have clean air to breathe and sufficient electrical power supply.