The contract will increase the amount of clean biomass energy the utility receives during times of year when it needs it the most.
The PUD has received energy from the Darrington facility since it began operating in 2007.
Under the new agreement, it expects to receive up to 2.5 average megawatts of energy from Hampton Lumber, or enough energy to serve the needs of nearly 2000 homes.
PUD Board of Commissioners president Kathy Vaughn said PUD Board of Commissioners president Kathy Vaughn said this benefits PUD customers by securing a clean, reliable supply of energy that helps support local jobs in northeast Snohomish County.
With the amended contact, the utility will receive all of the energy and RECs from the site.
The generation and maintenance schedules also will be modified to increase output and better match annual energy needs of the PUD during times of higher customer demand.
The amended contact will run through 2016 with options to extend the contract in five-year periods with the mutual agreement of both parties.
The majority of the PUD’s energy comes from clean, renewable sources. Other sources include hydroelectric, wind, solar and landfill biogas.
