Great Electrifying Event Lights Up Bonneville Lock & Dam April 7

PORTLAND, Ore. – Did you know the Portland District produces 20 percent of power consumed in Oregon, Washington and Idaho? The Corps is offering a family-friendly behind-the-scenes look at Bonneville Lock & Dam and the importance of hydropower in the Pacific Northwest.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is hosting a free, full day of hands-on and interactive activities, videos and tours in the Washington Shore Visitor Complex at the Great Electrifying Event on Saturday, April 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“We have this engineering marvel right in our back yard,” said Bonneville Park Ranger Robin Norris. “This is an opportunity to get up close to a generator and see how we make electricity using the power of the Columbia River.”

Learn how different forms of energy work through hands-on activities and videos, and take a tour inside Bonneville’s Powerhouse 2. Employees offer guided tours every 15 minutes starting at 10:30 a.m. Tours will be limited to 25 participants and visitors must register by 2 p.m. the day of the event. If your group has 10 or more people, please call the visitor center at 541-374-8820 to pre-register. Activities and information are geared toward elementary and middle school students.

“This event is designed to teach the basics of electricity and how it’s generated at Bonneville Lock and Dam,” said Norris. “This event really has something for the entire family.”

To get to the Washington Shore Visitor Complex, travel on Washington State Route 14 to milepost 39, then turn onto Dam Access Road about one mile west of the dam or three miles west of the Bridge of the Gods. Follow the signs to the visitor center.

The Corps is the largest operator of hydroelectric plants in the U.S., and one of the largest in the world. Portland District owns, operates and maintains 12 hydroelectric dams in the Columbia, Willamette and Rogue River basins. These facilities generate more than 25 million megawatt-hours of electricity annually, which supports the regional economy by offering an affordable and clean hydroelectric power source, and keeping energy prices and emissions low.

For more information about Bonneville Lock & Dam, call 541-374-8820 or visit the Portland District website at: http://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/bonneville/.