Jacobs has been appointed by Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to deliver engineering and advisory services for the modernisation of the Grand Coulee hydroelectric dam in Washington, US.
The Grand Coulee modernisation programme is an initiative to upgrade the dam’s transmission and distribution infrastructure to boost the reliability, efficiency, and longevity of the facilities that deliver power across multiple US states and parts of Canada.
The Grand Coulee dam is a pivotal element in BPA’s power delivery system, transmitting over 21 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually.
The modernisation efforts by Jacobs will enhance operational efficiency and support the delivery of electricity to customers in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, western Montana, and parts of California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and Canada.
Jacobs executive vice-president Fiachra Ó Cléirigh said: “Through this new agreement, Jacobs will apply its experience in energy and infrastructure to support BPA in delivering resilient, secure and cost-effective power solutions to communities across the Pacific Northwest.
“This collaboration reinforces Jacobs’ dedication to advancing critical capital projects, modernising utility infrastructure and strategically positioning BPA to meet future load demand with efficiency and reliability.”
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By GlobalDataAs BPA’s consultant, Jacobs is set to offer a suite of services, including project management, scoping, engineering, and strategic advisory, to modernise substation infrastructure and optimise transmission pathways, to maintain the continued provision of power to BPA’s customers.
BPA spokesperson Kevin Wingert said: “Grand Coulee dam plays a critical role powering our communities given its current capacity of more than 7,000MW.
“Modernising and making the current switchyards more reliable for the future will preserve current utility infrastructure and allow Grand Coulee to quickly and safely ramp up and down generation depending on grid demand – critical as AI data centres and other power-dense applications come online.”
The modernisation programme is an expansion of Jacobs’ ongoing collaboration with BPA, which includes the Ross Complex Redevelopment programme and the Facilities Portfolio Delivery Program.
These projects involve managing power transmission in the Northwestern US and refurbishing, maintaining, and constructing new BPA facilities across several states.
Jacobs has also recently secured a contract to provide design, engineering, and environmental services for Boeing’s significant expansion at its St. Louis, Missouri, campus.
