Normally, the power generators at the Snoqualmie Falls hydroelectric plant run at a painful roar. This summer, the machinery is silent for the first time in more than a century. The silence is bittersweet for folks like Power Plant Manager Dave Magnuson, who has worked alongside mementos of history at the Puget Sound Energy-run site for two years.

(more…)

If you want to see the power of water in the Northwest, Snoqualmie Falls is a place to witness it. There’s even a place to stand to watch it, a special park complete with trails and observation decks. It sits on land owned by Puget Sound Energy.

But the Snoqualmie River is also about electric power, and with upgrades now going into place, in three years it will provide electric power 40,000 homes.

(more…)

History

The Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Project is Puget Sound Energy’s oldest power-generating operation and the world’s first completely underground power plant. More than a century after its construction, the facility still produces clean, cost-effective electricity for PSE customers. In addition, the hydroelectric project’s public park and trails have for decades been one of the Pacific Northwest’s most popular scenic destinations, drawing approximately 2 million visitors annually to view the majestic, 270-foot waterfalls.

(more…)

Tuesday will mark the beginning of an eight-week closure of Snoqualmie Falls Park.

During the closure, Puget Sound Energy will undertake major landscaping projects including installing new walkways, lighting and common areas.
(more…)