During a visit last week to Grant PUD's Priest Rapids Dam, State Rep. Mark Klicker (R-Walla Walla) of the 16th Legislative District, engaged with Grant PUD Commission President Terry Pyle and the men and women of Grant PUD who keep the dam generating. They discussed infrastructure, transmission, environmental stewardship, and economic development opportunities. The dam plays a critical role in providing clean, renewable hydroelectric power to communities across Central Washington.
Klicker is a native of Walla Walla, ranking member of the House Local Government Committee and assistant ranking member of the House Environment Energy Committee. He emphasized the importance of maintaining and modernizing public energy assets like Grant PUD's Priest Rapids Dam and Wanapum dams, both on the Columbia River. His visit included a tour of the facility, conversations with PUD officials and staff and a review of ongoing projects aimed at improving energy resilience and environmental sustainability.
Rep. Klicker’s engagement at Priest Rapids underscores the growing importance of hydroelectric power in Washington’s clean energy transition and the need for continued collaboration between state leaders and local utilities.