During the May 9, 2016, Regular Board of Commissioners Meeting, the Okanogan County PUD Commissioners unanimously approved Resolution #1620 authorizing the District to generate electricity from Enloe Dam.

After lengthy public testimony from parties representing both electrification and removal of Enloe Dam, and reviewing all the options presented to date from staff, the Board of Commissioners of Okanogan County PUD determined that adding generation to Enloe Dam is in the best interests of the District’s ratepayers and has directed staff to proceed in developing a plan to add generation to the dam.

Stakeholders and opponents to generation of Enloe Dam were provided an opportunity to speak during the April 25, 2016, Regular Board of Commissioners Meeting. During this meeting they were to offer evidence of a lead agency that would take all responsibility and liability for the removal of Enloe Dam, as well as a firm source of funding that would pay for all costs associated with the removal and a draft plan for removal. After an hour of testimony during that meeting, the group failed to produce a lead agency or any of the required terms.

District staff has continually presented information to the Commissioners that demonstrated the District will require additional generation resources during the term of the FERC license and the estimated cost of Enloe Dam will be equal to or less than other alternative generation resources. The Commissioners further directed staff to work with Energy Northwest to develop the most cost-effective plan to construct generation facilities for the Enloe Dam project.