Did you know the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers produces 20 percent of power consumed in Oregon, Washington and Idaho?
Join the Corps, Saturday, April 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., for the annual Great Electrifying Event, an up-close-and-personal look at Bonneville Lock & Dam and the importance of hydropower in the Pacific Northwest. Corps rangers will host a free, family-friendly day full of hands-on activities, videos, and tours inside one of the dam’s two powerhouses.
“We have this engineering marvel right in our back yard,” said Bonneville Dam 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.”
Participants will learn the basics of electricity and how it’s generated here at Bonneville Lock and Dam.
“This event really has something for the entire family,” said Norris.
Powerhouse tours: Employees and volunteers offer guided tours of Bonneville’s Powerhouse 2 every 15 minutes starting at 10:30 a.m. Tours will be limited to 25 participants, and visitors must register at the front desk prior to the start of each tour. Visitors must register by 2 p.m. to complete activities and participate in the final tour. 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.
To get to the Washington Shore Visitor Center, 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 and Dam, call 541-374-8820 or visit Portland District’s website: www.nwp.usace.army.mil/bonneville/.