Chelan water storage project would cost up to $4 billion

WENATCHEE — A study commissioned by the Chelan County PUD looked at nine canyons that could be pumped full of water at night when electricity is cheap and drawn down to generate electricity when demand is higher.

The study found the project would cost $1 billion to $4 billion — too much to attract investors at current market conditions.

The Wenatchee World reports the $165,000 “pumped storage” study was funded in by the state Ecology Department as part of its effort to increase water storage in the Columbia Basin.

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