Dam proposed for South Fork Skykomish Would Be Economic Loser

The proposed site of the Sunset Falls Dam on the Skykomish River by Thomas OKeefe.

A new economic study of the controversial Sunset Falls Dam on Washington’s South Fork of the Skykomish River, reveals the power generated at the proposed site would cost 2.3 times more than the Snohomish County Public Utility District (SnoPUD) estimates.  Rocky Mountain Econometrics (RME), an economic, business and energy consulting firm in Boise, Idaho, evaluated the proposed dam using SnoPUD’s own data. Contrary to SnoPUD claims,the report concludes that the proposed dam would not be price competitive, does not complement renewables or provide reliable power, would not provide power for ratepayer homes when needed, and does not fit SnoPUD’s power needs. Washingotn Wild has is a member of a coalition opposing a new dam at Sunset Falls. Red the complete Sunset Fall Synopsis.