Douglas County PUD Moves Into Phase Two of Green Hydrogen Project

Douglas County Public Utility District in Washington State is moving ahead with the second phase of its green hydrogen project.

Specifically, Douglas County PUD Commissioners Ronald Skagen, Aaron Viebrock and Molly Simpson recently approved the purchase of a second 5-megawatt electrolyzer. Delivery of the second electrolyzer is expected to take 24 months.

Douglas PUD recently signed a contract with IMCO General Construction for phase one of its hydrogen production and fueling facility being built in Baker Flats. Site preparation, underground utilities and storage tank installation are complete at the site. Production of hydrogen is scheduled for June 2024.

The Baker Flats facility has capacity to accommodate up to 80 MW of green hydrogen production.

Douglas PUD said the additional hydrogen production capacity would create more opportunities for the utility to balance the integration of renewables resources, variable seasonal pricing, and fish water quality concerns at its Wells Hydroelectric Project. In addition, increased efficiencies will reduce generator unit maintenance costs, which translates to better rates and reliability for our customer owners, the utility said.

“There is a high demand for green hydrogen,” Gary Ivory, Douglas PUD general manager, said in a statement. “Our Wells Hydroelectric Project also positions us to take advantage of the state and federal incentives to advance green hydrogen opportunities in our region.”

Douglas PUD recently received a $5 million tax credit for equipment being installed at the hydrogen production facility as a result of an expansion of tax credits for hydrogen equipment.

“Douglas PUD is in a unique position to shape the policies being crafted around green hydrogen for the benefit of our customers,” Ron Skagen, Douglas PUD commission president, said in a statement. “We appreciate the legislatures’ support of the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Associations hydrogen hub application.”

Douglas PUD serves 17,000 customer-owners with reliable power and internet service and owns an 840-MW hydroelectric project on the Columbia River.