Avista's PF dam to receive $5M federal grant funding
In this June 6, 2023 file photo, the Spokane River flows through the Post Falls dam leased by Avista.
File/Courtesy of City of Post Falls
Avista announced Tuesday that the modernization project for the Post Falls Hydroelectric Development has been selected to receive a $5 million Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentive from the U.S. Department of Energy for improvements to increase the facility's efficiency.
“This is an exciting milestone for the Post Falls Hydroelectric Development modernization project. This facility has generated renewable and reliable energy for Avista customers in eastern Washington and northern Idaho for the last 118 years," Scott Kinney, Vice President of Energy Resources for Avista, said. "With the investments we’re making today, thanks in part to grant funds like these, we expect to extend the life of the Post Falls Dam well into the future.”
The overall goal of Avista’s Post Falls Modernization Project is to replace existing aging equipment with more modern and energy-efficient designs and equipment and increase the useful life of the facility. The planned updates will not change the operations of the Post Falls dam. Avista received a new 50-year license in 2009 for its Spokane River hydro system, which includes Post Falls.
The Hydroelectric Efficiency Improvement Incentives support the continued operation of the U.S. hydropower fleet and ensure a more reliable and resilient electric grid system.