How Tacoma Power generates support for hydro project communities

p A Tacoma Power fish truck parades through the Mossyrock Blueberry Festival

Community support is at the heart of our work at TPU, and that extends to the communities around our four hydroelectric projects: the Cowlitz River Project in Lewis County, Cushman Hydro Project in Mason County, Nisqually River Project in Pierce County, and Wynoochee River Project in Grays Harbor County. While the people who live around our hydro projects do not directly receive the clean, renewable hydroelectric energy we generate, we support their local communities in various ways.

“We want to show our neighbors that we’re a part of the community and not some big, faceless entity,” said Cowlitz River Project Manager Chad Chalmers. “We may work for Tacoma Power, but we call these communities home. We want to demonstrate our involvement and support in tangible ways.”

RECREATION

One way we provide support is through recreation opportunities. We welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors to our four beautiful Tacoma Power Parks every year. Visitors can camp, fish, go boating, and more. Additionally, we own 20,000 acres of land around our hydro projects. Fans of the outdoors can go hiking (our 20-mile-long Peterman Hill Trail is especially popular), horseback riding, hunting, and birdwatching on the lands.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT

We are committed to our hydro communities’ economic success. We offer high-quality permanent, seasonal, and contractor jobs, as well as internships. Per federal regulations, state regulations, and agreements, we spend millions of dollars each year supporting the counties, school districts, Tribes, fire districts, and more. We purchase energy from the local public utility districts and buy advertising in event programs, tourism guides, and newspapers. Additionally, visitors spend money at local shops and gas stations.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT REQUESTS

Since 2015, the Cowlitz River Project has funded nearly 60 community support requests totaling more than $16,000. The donations include everything from helping libraries to funding school activities. “We can use our unique capabilities to help the community,” said Chad. “One of the big things with the high schools is that they have gigantic rocks that each senior class paints. We donated a rock and placed it for one of the schools using one of the cranes. We have placed light poles and wired them for a local park and high school football field and stood up spar poles for the Morton Loggers’ Jubilee. We are the only local organization with equipment large enough to do this type of work.”