Energy Northwest

Energy Northwest is a municipal corporation in Washington state tasked with the building and operation of power plants. It was organized in 1957 as the Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS) to build a network of nuclear power plants throughout the state. Its first nuclear endeavor, the Hanford Generating Plant (HGP), began operation in the 1960's, using low-pressure steam from the Department of Energy's N reactor.

At the peak of construction activity, five power plants were in progress, two at Satsop (WNP-3 and 5) and three at Hanford (WNP-1, 2, and 4). Oregon also built a plant in the consortium. Only the Oregon and WNP-2 of the Hanford plants were completed. WNP-4 was taken back down to the ground. WNP-1 still stands unmaintained and was estimated to cost approximately $2.7 billion in 2002 dollars to complete.

In 1983, it became infamous for defaulting on $2.25 billion USD worth of bonds after construction on two of its nuclear power plants, WNP-4 and 5, was halted. The default remains the largest municipal bond default in the history of the United States, acquiring the nickname "whoops" in the financial media. [ [http://www.cambridge.org/uk/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521402538 Nuclear Implosions: The Rise and Fall of the Washington Public Power Supply System] ]

Today, Energy Northwest operates a single nuclear plant, Columbia Generating Station - formerly named WNP-2 - located in Richland, Washington. It also operates other hydroelectric, solar, and wind power generators.

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References

Further Reading

* Wilma, David. [http://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=5482 Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS).] History Link. July 10 2003. Retrieved May 27 2006.

External links

* [http://www.energy-northwest.com/ Energy Northwest Site]
* [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/PrintStory.pl?document_id=2008082460&zsection_id=268883724&slug=nukeop31&date=20080731 A Northwest distaste for nuclear power]