Koma Kulshan Hydroelectric Project | |
---|---|
Official name | Koma Kulshan Project |
Country | United States |
Location | Mount Baker National Forest in Whatcom County, Washington |
Coordinates | 48°40′49″N 121°43′24″W / 48.6802°N 121.7233°W |
Purpose | Hydroelectricity |
Status | Operational |
Construction began | 1989 [1] |
Opening date | October 1990 |
Owner(s) | Covanta Energy and Atlantic Power |
Operator(s) | Puget Sound Energy |
Dam and spillways | |
Impounds | Sulphur Creek, Rocky Creek |
Height | Rocky Creek Dam: 32 feet (9.8 m) Sulphur Creek Dam: 37 feet (11 m) |
Length | Rocky Creek Dam: 18 feet (5.5 m) Sulphur Creek Dam: 15 feet (4.6 m) |
Koma Kulshan powerhouse | |
Coordinates | 48°40′49″N 121°43′24″W / 48.6802°N 121.7233°W |
Operator(s) | Puget Sound Energy |
Commission date | 1990 |
Type | Run-of-the-river |
Hydraulic head | c. 1,600 ft (490 m) |
Turbines | 1 x Sulzer Escher Wyss Pelton wheel |
Installed capacity | 13.3 MW @ maximum flow 120 cu ft/s (3.4 m3/s) |
Capacity factor | 38.6% (2009-2010) [2] |
Annual generation | 45,000,000 kWh (10/1/2009–9/30/2010 [2]) |
Website www |
The Koma Kulshan Project is a 13.3 MW run-of-the-river hydroelectric generation facility on the slopes of Mount Baker, a stratovolcano in Washington state's North Cascades. The project commenced commercial operation in October 1990, [3] [4] [5] and is owned by a Covanta Energy– Atlantic Power joint venture. It supplies Puget Sound Energy via a Power Supply Agreement (PSA) contract. [3] [6] Its single turbine is a Pelton wheel supplied by Sulzer Escher Wyss. [7]
Located in the Mount Baker National Forest, it is one of six Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-licensed small hydro installations on Federal Government land in Washington state. [8] [9]
Koma Kulshan is the name of Mount Baker in the Lummi dialect. [10]: 241
Intakes are located at diversion dams on the Rocky Creek and Sulphur Creek tributaries of Lake Shannon. A 42–45-inch (1,100–1,100 mm) diameter, 19,250-foot (5,870 m) long penstock carries water from a bifurcation ( 48°41′29″N 121°47′31″W / 48.6914°N 121.7919°W, 2,750 feet (840 m) a.s.l.) to the powerhouse. [11] Water is discharged from the powerhouse through a short run on Sandy Creek to Baker Lake. [9] [8] [12] [13] Up to 120 cubic feet per second (3.4 m3/s) is diverted to the powerhouse. [14] [15]: 3–16
Rocky Creek Dam ( 48°41′06″N 121°48′23″W / 48.6849°N 121.8065°W) is 18 feet (5.5 m) high, 32 feet (9.8 m) long at 2,770 feet (840 m) a.s.l. [11]
Sulphur Creek Dam ( 48°41′34″N 121°47′34″W / 48.6928°N 121.7928°W) is 15 feet (4.6 m) high, 37 feet (11 m) long at 2,755 feet (840 m) a.s.l. [11]
Diversion of the creek affected the appearance of Upper and Middle Sulphur Creek Falls. [16] [17]
Power generation peaks in May through July coinciding with snowmelt, and has a smaller peak in November coinciding with the wet season. [2]