Koma Kulshan Project

Koma Kulshan Hydroelectric Project
Image of project on Mount Baker as seen from space: red dot is powerhouse, green dot is dam(s). Bellingham on the upper left side of frame, Lake Shannon on lower right.
Koma Kulshan Hydroelectric Project
Location of Koma Kulshan Hydroelectric Project in Washington (state)
Official nameKoma Kulshan Hydroelectric Project (P-3239)
CountryUnited States
LocationMount Baker National Forest in Whatcom County, Washington
Coordinates48°40′49″N 121°43′24″W / 48.6802°N 121.7233°W / 48.6802; -121.7233
PurposeHydroelectricity
StatusOperational
Construction began1989[1]
Opening dateOctober 1990
OwnerKoma Kulshan Associates (Subsidiary of Eagle Creek Renewable Energy)[2]
OperatorEagle Creek Renewable Energy[3]
Dam and spillways
ImpoundsSulphur Creek, Rocky Creek
HeightRocky Creek Dam: 32 feet (9.8 m)
Sulphur Creek Dam: 37 feet (11 m)
LengthRocky Creek Dam: 18 feet (5.5 m)
Sulphur Creek Dam: 15 feet (4.6 m)
Koma Kulshan Powerhouse
Coordinates48°40′49″N 121°43′24″W / 48.6802°N 121.7233°W / 48.6802; -121.7233
Commission date1990
TypeRun-of-the-river
Hydraulic headc. 1,600 ft (490 m)
Turbines1x 12 MW Sulzer Escher Wyss Pelton wheel
Installed capacity12 MW[4]
Annual generation24.764 GWh[5]

The Koma Kulshan Project is a 12 MW run-of-the-river hydroelectric generation facility on the slopes of Mount Baker, a stratovolcano in Washington state's North Cascades. The project commenced commercial operation in October 1990,[6][7][8] and is owned by Eagle Creek Renewable Energy via their Koma Kulshan Associates subsidiary. It supplies Puget Sound Energy via a Power Supply Agreement (PSA) contract.[6][9] Its single turbine is a Pelton wheel supplied by Sulzer Escher Wyss.[10]

Located in the Mount Baker National Forest, it is one of six Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)-licensed small hydro installations on Federal Government land in Washington state.[11][12]

Koma Kulshan is the name of Mount Baker in the Lummi dialect.[13]: 241 

In 2022, the project was sold to Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, LLC.

Dams

Intakes are located at diversion dams on the Rocky Creek and Sulphur Creek tributaries of Lake Shannon. A 42–45-inch (1,100–1,100 mm) diameter, 19,250-foot (5,870 m) long penstock carries water from a bifurcation (48°41′29″N 121°47′31″W / 48.6914°N 121.7919°W / 48.6914; -121.7919 (Penstock head), 2,750 feet (840 m) a.s.l.) to the powerhouse.[14] Water is discharged from the powerhouse through a short run on Sandy Creek to Baker Lake.[12][11][15][16] Up to 120 cubic feet per second (3.4 m3/s) is diverted to the powerhouse.[17][18]: 3–16 

Rocky Creek Dam (48°41′06″N 121°48′23″W / 48.6849°N 121.8065°W / 48.6849; -121.8065 (Rocky Creek diversion dam)) is 18 feet (5.5 m) high, 32 feet (9.8 m) long at 2,770 feet (840 m) a.s.l.[14]

Sulphur Creek Dam (48°41′34″N 121°47′34″W / 48.6928°N 121.7928°W / 48.6928; -121.7928 (Sulphur Creek diversion dam)) is 15 feet (4.6 m) high, 37 feet (11 m) long at 2,755 feet (840 m) a.s.l.[14]

Diversion of the creek affected the appearance of Upper and Middle Sulphur Creek Falls.[19][20]

References

  1. ^ Burkardt, Nina (April 1995). "Technical Clarity in Inter-Agency Negotiations: Lessons From Four Hydropower Projects" (PDF). Water Resources Bulletin. 31 (2). American Water Resources Association: 188–189. Bibcode:1995JAWRA..31..187B. doi:10.1111/j.1752-1688.1995.tb03372.x. Retrieved 10 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Eagle Creek Renewable Energy, LLC acquired Koma Kulshan Associates, LP from Atlantic Power Corporation for $24 million". Market Screener. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  3. ^ "Koma Kulshan Annual EAP Exemption Request". eLibrary FERC. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  4. ^ "January 2026: EIA 860M". Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory. U.S. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  5. ^ "2024: EIA-923". Form EIA-923 detailed data with previous form data. U.S. Energy Information Administration. Retrieved 21 March 2026.
  6. ^ a b "Koma Kulshan". Atlantic Power Corporation. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  7. ^ Renewable Resources Development Report Archived 2016-12-21 at the Wayback Machine California Energy Commission, State of California, November 2003, principal authors: Ann Peterson, Pamela Doughman, Todd Lieberg
  8. ^ Northwest Regional Forecast of Power Loads and Resources August 2007 – July 2017 (PDF), Portland, Oregon: Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee (PNUCC), April 2007 – via efsec.wa.gov
  9. ^ Covanta Energy sustainability report 2009/2010
  10. ^ Christopher Bergesen (ed.), "Kulshan site", Power Plants Around the World (Website), Bethesda, Maryland, retrieved 2015-07-08{{citation}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ^ a b Micro hydro at Virtual Nuclear Tourist
  12. ^ a b Koma Kulshan site, Global Energy Observatory, c. 2006
  13. ^ Bright, William (2004), Native American Placenames of the United States, University of Oklahoma Press, ISBN 9780806135984
  14. ^ a b c Amended license, FERC, April 25, 1990
  15. ^ Water quality certification, Koma Kulshan project (PDF), Washington Department of Ecology, September 16, 1986
  16. ^ Site map, Hydrokinetics, September 8, 1980 – via FERC. Note: Site map shows two unbuilt diversion dams on Dillard Creek and Sandy Creek, and does not match as-built configuration of penstock.
  17. ^ Koma Kulshan Hydroelectric Project average annual flows for the period 10/1/10 to 9/30/11, Koma Kulshan Associates, December 14, 2011 – via FERC
  18. ^ Initial Consultation Document: Baker River Project, FERC No.2150, Existing Conditions (PDF), Puget Sound Energy
  19. ^ Bryan Swan, "Upper Sulphur Creek Falls", Northwest Waterfall Survey, retrieved 2015-07-08
  20. ^ Bryan Swan, "Middle Sulphur Creek Falls", Northwest Waterfall Survey, retrieved 2015-07-08

Further reading

  • Beth A.K. Coughlan; Nina Burkardt; David Fulton (November 1993), "Assessing the "need to negotiate" in ferc licensing consultations: A study of two hydropower projects", Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 13 (6): 331–351, doi:10.1016/0195-9255(93)90002-S
  • Vassilia Angelaki; Jonathan M. Harbor (1995), "Impacts of Flow Diversion for Small Hydroelectric Power Plants on Sediment Transport, Northwest Washington", Physical Geography, 16 (5): 432–443, Bibcode:1995PhGeo..16..432A, doi:10.1080/02723646.1995.10642564
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