Contract awards for repairs at Grand Coulee, Hungry Horse

The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a $1.85 million contract on September 2 to ABB, Inc. in Cary, North Carolina, to perform transformer oil cooler replacements at Grand Coulee Dam.

Over the past several years the existing transformer oil coolers have shown the need for replacement. This contract will require furnishing and installing the new transformer oil coolers, as well as disposal of the existing ones. The work is scheduled to be complete by April 30, 2015.

“This project is just one way Reclamation is continuing to ensure efficient and reliable power production in the Pacific Northwest,” said Grand Coulee Power Manager Coleman Smith. “Replacing these transformer oil coolers will help to provide many more years of reliability at Grand Coulee Dam.”

ABB is a global leader in power and automation technologies. ABB is the largest supplier of industrial motors and drives, the largest provider of generators to the wind industry, and the largest supplier of power grids worldwide.

The Bureau of Reclamation awarded a $7 million contract on August 29 to Voith Hydro, Inc. in York, Pennsylvania, to perform turbine repair for Grand Coulee and Hungry Horse dams.

The turbine runners to be serviced have been in operation since the early 1950s. The work requires specialized welding and grinding, and will be completed over the next five years.

“These repairs at Grand Coulee and Hungry Horse dams are essential to maintaining the turbines at these hydropower facilities,” said Regional Director Lorri Lee. “This work will ensure that these important hydropower units continue to operate well into the future, contributing significantly to the Pacific Northwest power supply.”

Voith is one of the world’s leading suppliers of hydroelectric equipment, technology and services.They are home to one of the world’s largest dedicated hydro turbine equipment manufacturing facilities and are the only turbine manufacturer in the United States with a hydraulic laboratory.

Completed in 1941, Grand Coulee Dam is a key feature of Reclamation’s Columbia Basin Project which provides both power and irrigation. This project serves irrigation to about 671,000 acres in east central Washington with over 300 miles of main canals. Power generated at the project is marketed by the Bonneville Power Administration.

Hungry Horse Dam stands 564 feet tall and was completed in 1953. It is located on the south fork of the Flathead River, 20 miles northeast of Kalispell, Montana.

For more information about Grand Coulee Dam visit: http://www.usbr.gov/pn/grandcoulee/