Emergency Power Backup System
Power & Security
Resiliency through redundancy. See how our electrical infrastructure updates provide power and security to our campus.
As national and regional concerns regarding the availability or potential threats grows, CWU is proactively ensuring campus operations can continue uninterrupted through the investment in a campus wide emergency backup power system. Through the implementation of new diesel generators strategically placed on campus, the Ellensburg campus will be able to navigate severe weather, or external electrical grid impacts to maintain campus service.
About Emergency Backup Power System
The success of CWU academics is built on a welcoming and engaging campus with world class facilities that are power by our infrastructure. CWU is dedicated to ensuring the continuity of operations by focusing on upgrades that preserve the network of distribution systems that support our academic facilities. The Emergency Backup Power System project is dedicated to protecting campus operations by providing auxiliary power to campus in times of emergency due to weather or external electrical grid impacts.
Beyond the normal operations of serving our wildcat students, the Ellensburg campus also has the largest facilities in Kittitas county that would serve as emergency "shelter-in" space or as a part of Kittitas County Hazard Mitigation Plan. This makes the reliance on a dependable electrical network on campus a high priority for our student body and surrounding community.
The $11.7 million project, funded from a state appropriation, includes:
- A minimum of 6MW of backup power for campus
- Engineering analysis on the power distribution constraints and opportunities
- Coordination with the Department of Ecology on air quality monitoring and emission control
- Protection of CWU's assets by providing back up power for life and safety.
Construction is anticipated to begin May of 2027.
Construction Project Coordinator: Gary Gleason, Gary.gleason@cwu.edu
CWU Project #: 17492 Emergency Backup Power System
General Contractor: To be determined
Consultant Team:
Electrical Engineer: MW Engineers
Air Permit Modeling: Landau Associates
Status: Engineering in progress.
Project Timeline:
- Engineering & Design - August 2026 - January 2027
- Ecology permitting - August 2026 - December 2028
- Project advertising - February 2027 - March 2027
- Construction Start - May 2027 - June 2028
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