Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Plant
The Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Plant is located just north of Snoqualmie in King County, Washington state, US. It is situated about 22 mi (35 km) east of Seattle. Located just below the Snoqualmie Falls, the power plant consists of two power houses, Plant 1 and Plant 2. Plant 1 was completed in 1899 and is located underground. It is the first completely underground hydroelectric power plant ever built in the world. Plant 2 was built in 1910 and is located along the right bank of the Snoqualmie River. Both plants receive water from a small reservoir created by a weir atop the falls. Plant 1 has an installed capacity of 13.7 MW and Plant 2 a capacity of 40.2 MW for a total installed capacity of 53.9 MW, enough to power 40,000 homes.
| Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Plant | |
|---|---|
Plant 2 along the Snoqualmie River | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Snoqualmie, Washington |
| Coordinates | 47°32′39.50″N 121°50′29.27″W |
| Status | Operational |
| Construction began | Plant 1: 1898 Plant 2: 1956 |
| Commission date | Plant 1: 1899/1905 Plant 2: 1910 Upgrade: 2013 |
| Owner(s) | Puget Sound Energy |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | Plant 1: 4 × 1.8 MW Pelton-type, 1 × 6.5 MW Francis-type Plant 2: 1 × 13.7 MW, 1 × 26.5 MW Francis-type |
| Nameplate capacity | Plant 1: 13.7 MW Plant 2: 40.2 MW Total: 53.9 MW |
| External links | |
| Commons | Related media on Commons |
Snoqualmie Falls Cavity Generating Station | |
Cutaway diagrams of the plant | |
| Location | King County, Washington |
| Nearest city | Snoqualmie, Washington |
| Built | 1899 |
| Architect | Charles H. Baker |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001895 |
| Added to NRHP | April 23, 1976 |
Plant 1 was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Snoqualmie Falls Cavity Generating Station on April 23, 1976. In 1981, Plant 1 was also designated as an National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The power plant is owned by Puget Sound Energy. In 1992, Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Power Plant Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places.