The city of Seattle is holding public meetings in Carnation to gather input on the South Fork Tolt Hydroelectric Project.

The city of Seattle owns the South Fork Tolt Hydroelectric Project, which generates electricity for Seattle City Light using the Tolt Reservoir and Dam. Seattle is in the process of relicensing the project before its current license expires in 2029. This relicensing is a partnership between Seattle City Light and Seattle Public Utilities, which owns the dam.

The city is hoping to obtain a new license from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), according to the Seattle City Light website.

“While the project supplies less than 1% of City Light’s power requirements, it is an important source of renewable energy for its customers,” according to the website. “It powers the Tolt Water Treatment Facility and helps balance out the power provided by other renewable sources in the region, thus filling in gaps and increasing resiliency within the local power grid.”

Seattle’s original FERC license for the South Fork Tolt Hydroelectric Project was issued in the 1980s. The city plans to file for a new license no later than July 19, 2027.

In the meantime, Seattle is hosting in-person and virtual listening sessions to gather community input about the relicensing process.

In-person meetings are at the Carnation Library from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 22, and from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 1.

Virtual meetings are from 5-7 p.m. Sept. 24 and from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Sept. 26. Registration can be done at kearnswest.zoom.us/j/83976958980 for the Sept. 24 meeting and kearnswest.zoom.us/j/84624499358 for the Sept. 26 meeting.