LATEST PROJECTS
Bethel-Round Butte Transmission Line Upgrade
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs successful in its quest for a DOE $250 Million grant to upgrade the Bethel-Round Butte 230kV transmission line. [October 2023]
PRESS RELEASES
UPGRADING TRANSMISSION CAPACITY BY BRIDGING RENEWABLES IN OREGON
DOE-GRIP-Confederated-Tribes-of-Warm-Springs-Oregon.pdf (energy.gov)
U.S. DOE grants $250M to Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, in partnership with PGE, for critical transmission upgrades
Oregon utilities, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs get $450M to improve electric grid
POWER OPERATIONS
WSPWE is responsible for managing the Tribes’ 49.99% ownership interest in the largest hydroelectric project within the State of Oregon; the Pelton Round Butte Hydroelectric Project located on the Deschutes River.
In 1955 the Tribes approved the building of the first powerhouse, the Pelton Dam, also installed at this time was the Reregulating Dam. In 1964 the Tribes approved the construction of the third dam, the Round Butte Dam.
With the construction of the Reregulating Dam in 1955, the Tribes reserved the exclusive right to future power generation at the dam if it was ever found to be economically feasible. It wasn’t until 1980, when the energy market moved upward and federal law was passed allowing private developers to develop hydroelectric sites, that the Tribes elected to exercise their option to construct a hydroelectric project at the Reregulating Dam powerhouse.
In 2001, the Tribes entered into a Global Settlement Agreement with Portland General Electric to form a partnership to jointly own the entire Pelton/Round Butte Hydroelectric Project. Under the agreement, the Tribes retained 100% ownership of the Reregulating Dam powerhouse and Portland General Electric retained 100% of the transmission out of the project.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Renewable energy is strongly supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) passed in 2022 that provides for significant funding for investment in the national energy grid. The BIL includes emphasis on both the generation and transmission aspects of energy development in support of transmission and generation resiliency and renewable resource integration. WSPWE, on behalf of the Warm Springs Tribe, is active in discussions with federal and state agencies promoting this unique funding opportunity.
Solar:
After four years in exploring and finding a viable partner to partner with in advancing a large-scale solar farm, WSPWE has found two developers interested in advancing to the next stage. We are hopeful we can deliver to the Tribal leadership a proposal that would allow us to start developing a large scale commercial solar farm. A solar project Feasibility Study with one of the developers is expected to commence in late 2022. Active discussions are underway with the second developer with the goal of executing a Letter of Intent, also in late 2022, to scope another solar project.
Geothermal:
A study done in the early 1990s concluded that the Warm Springs Reservation had high potential for geothermal power in the Warm Springs River Basin area. In 2016 we drilled three temperature gradient holes and discovered a resource that appears to have electrical generation potential. — As renewable energy demand increases WSPWE will attempt to gain support to advance this carbon free renewable resource.
CTWS WATER RIGHTS UTILIZATION
In March 2006, Tribal Council directed WSPWE to explore water marketing opportunities resulting from the water rights agreement reached between the State of Oregon, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the Warm Springs Tribe.
RESTORATION EFFORTS
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs along with our Pelton partner, Portland General Electric, have invested millions to install a new intake at the Round Butte Dam. This new intake allows us to capture and move salmon and steelhead from the upper basin to the lower river, where they will migrate out to the Pacific Ocean.
We have with our basin partners improved the upper basin watershed to receive the returning adult fish who will plant the next regeneration through spawning. This new environment will then foster the young fish that will continue the life cycle of the salmon that is so important to our culture in Warm Springs.
With the help of all the state and federal agencies and organizations that are active in the basin, we are seeing this effort come to life. We will, for the first time in 50 plus years, see adult salmon above the Round Butte Dam.
WARM SPRINGS POWER & WATER’S CONTRIBUTION TO TRIBAL MEMBERSHIP
As of June 2022, WSPWE has contributed over $179 million to the Tribal General Fund and $50 million to ecosystem enhancements and protection in the Deschutes Basin, including funding to assist with a redesign of Mill Creek through Potters Pond restoring the area back to its natural state.
MORE INFORMATION
Please visit warmsprings-nsn.gov for additional information regarding The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and Warm Springs Power & Water Enterprises.