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The PUD's 2010 budget projects continued strong sales of wind energy and a $40.2 million capital budget, as we continue
on an 8-year plan to upgrade the electric infrastructure in Cowlitz County.
Cowlitz PUD and three-other consumer-owned utilities - Lakeview Light and Power, Peninsula Light and Eugene
Water and Electric Board - have developed the 100 megawatt Harvest Wind Project in Klickitat County, WA.
Construction was completed in late 2009 and commercial operation began on December 15. Harvest Wind is
adjacent to the White Creek Wind Project, which the PUD also is
invested in. Cowlitz PUD owns 30 percent of Harvest Wind, which will bring its total wind power capacity
to 124 MW between both projects.
PUD meter technicians continue to make great progress on the Advanced Metering Infrastructure Project (AMI).
As of early March, 36,500 new meters are installed. When the project is completed in 2011 all 48,000 PUD
customers will have a new meter that communicates on a real-time basis with computers in the PUD office, via
a signal over power lines.
Work continues on the new Technical Services Center at the PUD's Operation Center on Industrial Way in Longview.
Team Construction of Vancouver, WA was the low bidder to construct the new addition. It will be completed in
mid-2010 and will replace our 60-year old meter department building. Read more in our
November newsletter.
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