Your PUD
News Release
PUD commissioners oppose renewable energy initiative
Chelan County PUD
News Release
10/16/2006
A majority of Chelan County PUD commissioners voted Monday to oppose Initiative 937, which would require the PUD to meet 15 percent of its load with qualifying renewable energy by 2020.
Chelan County PUD commissioners consider hydropower clean and renewable, however hydropower does not qualify under the initiative. Existing renewable power production, like the PUD’s SNAP Program (Sustainable Natural Alternative Power), also would not qualify since contributions to the program are voluntary.
“Our renewables, and we’re leaders in that field, are not recognized,” stressed Board President Gary Montague. “I’m still downright embarrassed that the largest producing hydro state does not recognize hydro.”
Commissioners had delayed a vote since first discussing whether to take a position in September to gather more information about the measure that is on the Nov. 7 ballot.
“937 needs to fail,” stated Commissioner Norm Gutzwiler. “If this should pass, by 2020, the citizens of Chelan County will be paying more for their power because we will have to implement or buy power from something other than our hydro program.”
Commissioner Ann Congdon added, “937 is flawed. We need to take a stand.”
“It [937] doesn’t make sense,” said Commissioner Bob Boyd.
Commissioner Werner Janssen was the only vote against opposing the initiative. Janssen said he believes the measure would force research and development of new renewable energy sources.
The PUD is also developing other renewable resources, including solar and wind, through the SNAP Program, Nine Canyon Wind Project and the Solar Demonstration Project at the Capitol Building in Olympia. There are solar panels at every public school in Chelan County.
Efficiencies gained through upgrades to the generating units at the PUD’s three hydroelectric plants would count as renewable energy for the initiative’s future targets.
In other business, PUD commissioners:
- Set the 2007 commissioner budget at $535,000. Half of the budget will go toward memberships in local, regional and national chambers and associations. The remainder is set aside for meeting costs, commissioner salaries, training and travel.
- Heard that the PUD will pay about $50,000 for site preparation for convenience cabins at Lincoln Rock State Park. The four cabins will have electricity and water service and will be available by reservation.
- Received notice that the Port of Douglas County has notified the PUD that they will no longer maintain Orondo Park. The PUD owns 1.4 acres of the 5-acre park, which was built in the early 1970s and is part of the licensing package for Rocky Reach Dam.
- Discussed a mutual parking agreement with the city of Wenatchee for the future Events Center near Walla Walla Point Park.
- Approved a motion to order power transformers for 2007 at a cost of $1.45 million.
- Set the next public strategic planning session for Nov. 20. The time and location of the meeting will be announced when they are confirmed.
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The next regular meeting of the PUD commission is at 1 p.m. on Monday Oct. 23.
Most PUD commission meetings are recorded, and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s home page at www.chelanpud.org.
Christy Shearer
Communications Audio-visual Specialist
Chelan County PUD
509.661.4258 office
509.421.4258 cell
509.661.8133 fax
christy.shearer@chelanpud.org