16 March 2009 — Federal regulators issued a license for the 1,300 MW Rocky Reach Hydroelectric Project in Washington State. The license outlines mandates that will cost the Chelan County Public Utility District around $425 million over the next 43 years, including continuing a habitat conservation plan for salmon and steelhead trout and maintaining existing parks on the Rocky Reach reservoir.

Chelan County PUD began relicensing efforts in 1999, seven years before the license was to expire. The PUD initially applied for a 50-year license. Since 2006, Chelan County PUD had been operating the dam with annual licenses from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

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PSE awarded 50-year license for hydropower facility