Columbia Gorge Renewable Trading Hub Concept

Why create a Northwest energy hub just for renewables?

• A trading hub makes sense when a sufficient number of producers and buyers at a common location where enough transactions can occur to establish a liquid market of a like homogeneous commodity.
• There are currently a variety of existing renewable projects in the Columbia Gorge.
• All major Northwest purchasers as well as purchasers from the Southwest currently transact for renewable energy in the Columbia Gorge.

Why not use the existing hub at Mid C?

• Issues with locational differences from the Mid C make transactions for renewable energy unique and non homogeneous at the Mid C.
• A large majority of the renewable transactions are headed south or west from the Gorge and transacting at the Mid C requires producers to deliver the energy to the Mid C just to have the purchaser reverse the transaction back through the Gorge.

Is the Columbia Gorge Hub ready to start?

Additional infrastructure and services need to be developed to allow projects to have a homogeneous product.

• Firming and shaping will probably require additional infrastructure similar to Klickitat PUD’s pumped storage projects.
• Seamless transmission within the hub similar to Klickitat PUD’s under construction north shore 230 loop.
• Universal project certification, including WREGIS, CEC and any other applicable certifications universal to the projects of the Columbia Gorge for delivery within the WECC.