Columbia Generating Station

Benton County

Facility status

Operational

Energy type

  • Nuclear fission

Max generating capacity

1,236 megawatts (MW)
The Columbia Generating Station (CGS), formerly known as WNP-2, is an operating nuclear electric generating station located near Richland. The project is sited on land leased from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on the Hanford Site. The facility has a net design electrical rating of 1,236 megawatts and the entire output of the plant is dispatched to the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). The total area of the project is 1,089 acres.

Public comments

We are accepting general comments for this facility. If you would like to submit a comment, please email, comments@efsec.wa.gov.
See all comments

Project team

Assigned site specialist
Amy Moon

Applicant or Certificate Holder
Energy Northwest

Timeline

Application received
Jan, 1971
Application completed
May, 1972
Operation start
Dec, 1984

Facility progress

A facility goes through five different stages. Click on one of the stages before to learn more about our siting process.

Application review
Complete
Environmental review
No information
Land use and adjudication
No information
Final recommendation and governor's decision
Complete
Permits and compliance
In progress

Upcoming hearings and meetings

See all hearings and meetings
No upcoming events.

Recent documents

See all documents for this facility
Columbia Generating Station* - Operational*
Document date
Permit
Columbia Generating Station* - Operational*
Document date
Permit
Columbia Generating Station* - Operational*
Document date
Permit
Columbia Generating Station* - Operational*
Document date
Comment
Columbia Generating Station* - Operational*
Document date
Comment

About Columbia Generating Station

The Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS), now Energy Northwest, filed an application with the state in 1971 for the construction and operation of the Columbia Generating Station, formerly known as WNP-2. The governor approved the site certification agreement (SCA) on May 17, 1972, after hearing held in 1971. Following initial startup testing, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a full power operating license (OL) in March 1984 and commercial operations began in December 1984. 

Site location