Columbia Generating Station, the northwest's only nuclear energy facility, is producing around the-clock, carbon-free electricity for about a million homes. And the electricity from Columbia is carbon-free.
This reliable, 24-7 power is available when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing.
In Washington state, Columbia Generating Station is the third largest electricity generator behind Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph dams. The carbon-free nuclear energy from Columbia complements the electricity produced by the Federal hydro-electric system and other renewables to make Washington state’s electricity mix one of the cleanest in the nation.
Columbia Generating Station is an integral part of the community in more ways than one.
A 2018 analysis by the Nuclear Energy Institute found that Columbia Generating Station contributes more than $690 million a year in economic output, including $475 million in Washington state alone. Columbia’s operation also supports thousands of jobs.
The total economic benefit of Columbia operating through its license, currently 2043, is more than $8.9 billion for Washington, according to the study.