"We have never found it a significant obstacle to attract high-quality, national-level talent to the Valley."

~Lonnie Gienger, President & CEO
Wilkinson Corporation

Utilities

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In the region, electric and other power costs are among the lowest in the nation, offering a crucial advantage to a variety of companies whose greatest ongoing costs are incurred through utility needs. Yakima County offers growing companies first-class utility services:

Electricity

Hydroelectric dams on the Columbia and Snake Rivers provide Washington State with some of the lowest electric rates in the nation. Yakima County is served by two electric utilities companies, Pacific Power & Light Company, an investor-owned utility, and the Benton County Rural Electric Association.
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Natural Gas

Cascade Natural Gas Corporation distributes natural gas throughout Yakima County, and quality service is available for all types of installations. An ample supply of natural gas from both U.S. and Canadian sources is expected to meet anticipated future demand.
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Solid Waste Disposal

Solid waste collection service is available throughout the region by municipal systems or private companies. There are two solid waste landfills and one transfer station within Yakima County. The area also offers recycling centers for a number of items.
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Wastewater

Each city operates its own wastewater collection system. The Port of Sunnyside operates a system dedicated to the treatment of industrial waste. The regional treatment plant operated by the City of Yakima also has a delegated industrial pretreatment program in place.
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Telecommunications

Digital telecommunications service is available to Yakima County customers through Quest, Sprint and EMBARQ Communications. Newly installed fiber optic cables serve most areas of the County. There are several companies that offer competitive long distance and/or cellular services. They include US Cellular,  Verizon, Cingular/AT&T, Sprint, Clearwire, Charter Communications and EMBARQ Communications. Due in part to technological advances such as these, Yakima County is particularly well-suited for call centers and related industries.
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