WORLD’S BIGGEST DAM

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26523, 11 September 1951, Page 7

WORLD’S BIGGEST DAM

Completion Of Grand Coulee Project

(N.Z Press Association — Copyright) (Rec. 8 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, September ». The world's largest hydro-electric power plant at the Grand Coulee dam in Washington State will be completed this week when the 18th and last generator will be put into Service. It will increase the capacity of the plant to 1,974,000 kilowatts—enough to light every home and run every factory in a City of 4,000,000 persons. The two twin power-houses on the Columbia river pour their energy Into the Pacific north-west power pool for public and private use in five States—mostly by defence industries. The plant can generate as much energy in 24 hours aS would be released by 20,000 tons of coal, yet the north-west's soaring needs for power have outstripped even this Capacity and the possibility of adding a third great, battery of generators at Grand Coulee is being discussed the United States Government eventually plans to have 10 dams on the Columbia river, which with its tributaries, contains 40 per cent, of the nation’s hydro-electric power potential. Three dams, including , the Grand Coulee, are completed and two are under construction. When all are built, they will generate 16,000,000 kilowatts, The Grand Coulee dam helped the States of Oregon and Washington to produce 48 per cent, of the nation’s supply of aluminium in 1950.