Your PUD
News Release
People speak in favor of more solar power
Chelan County PUD
News Release
8/4/2008
Chelan County PUD commissioners Monday heard spirited comments from more than two dozen customer-owners in favor of putting more PUD resources into research and development of solar power systems in the county.
The discussion was spurred by the final review of the PUD’s Integrated Resource Plan, or IRP – a report required by state law that cites the sources of power needed to supply customers through 2018. Commissioners will be asked to vote on the IRP Aug. 11, and people encouraged commissioners to add solar power in the IRP as an important piece of the PUD’s future portfolio, even if it is not needed for local load.
The PUD’s IRP, which shows an ample supply of power to meet local needs through the next decade, describes the mix of resources from generation, conservation and energy efficiency that will meet current and projected needs at the lowest reasonable cost and risk to the utility and its customer-owners.
PUD commissioners have held public meetings since January to consider the IRP and listen to public comment. At Monday’s meeting, people came to share their concern that solar power is not part of the plan.
General Manager Rich Riazzi told the crowd the IRP is a requirement of the state and does not limit the PUD in looking at other energy sources. He said the plan can be updated as often as the board likes.
Jeff Parsons from the Barn Beach Reserve in Leavenworth asked commissioners to continue the PUD’s history of being visionary. “Why not be visionary about solar?” he said.
Some said solar is so important for the future that it doesn’t need to pencil out economically. “It doesn’t have to make money to make sense,” said Leavenworth resident Betty Palmer.
Commissioners said the PUD is in favor of solar power, noting that it started the SNAP Program in 2001, which now connects 45 solar arrays to the PUD’s power grid. Some also said more could be done to promote solar in Chelan County, especially after 2012 when long-term power sales contracts expire and the PUD’s power portfolio may change.
Commissioner Dennis Bolz recommended working with schools to educate children about the benefits of conservation and renewable energy. Bolz and Norm Gutzwiler both expressed concerns about spending money on solar power and funding it through rates or debt, especially if it hurt low-income families. Werner Janssen asked if PUD managers could look into doing at least a little to begin expanding the PUD’s investment into solar power, and he called for the board to make a strong statement supporting it when they adopt the IRP.
Commissioner Ann Congdon said commissioners are paying attention to customer-owners and want to go beyond business as usual.
Further comments on the IRP can be submitted at the Aug. 11 meeting, by phone at (509) 661-4212, or on the PUD’s Web site at http://www.chelanpud.org/IRP.html.
PUD may expand conservation efforts
Chelan County PUD commissioners heard staff recommendations Monday for future electric conservation efforts.
PUD staff estimates that a greater emphasis on conservation in the community could save the PUD $1.6 to $2.4 million annually, while also saving on customers’ electric bills. The power saved could be sold on the open market, helping to keep power rates low in Chelan County.
The PUD encourages customers to conserve energy and offers programs to help customers fund conservation efforts. Low-interest weatherization loans help replace old residential doors and windows and add insulation, and Resource$mart helps commercial and industrial customers change lighting, doors and refrigeration fans.
Initiative 937, approved in November 2006, puts a greater emphasis on conservation, and the PUD will need to provide more opportunities to conserve in the future to meet its requirements.
Customer Service Director John Stoll warned commissioners that the PUD will have to spend more money to achieve higher rates of conservation, but that the benefits will be threefold. The PUD will have more power to sell on the wholesale market, customer-owners will have lower power bills and innovative conservation will help the PUD maintain its position as an environmental leader.
In 2009, staff recommends a redesign on the weatherization loan program, adoption of connection fees that encourages conservation and finalizing conservation policies. In 2010, they recommend a compact fluorescent bulb program, appliance rebates and wider Resource$mart application. Staff is also looking at a program to help builders during new home construction.
In other business, PUD commissioners:
- Heard the PUD’s second quarter financial update, which showed that a cool spring and late snow runoff have hurt the PUD’s net wholesale power sales revenue, which is currently $4.2 million less than budgeted. Since the snow in the mountains did not melt until May and June, the PUD was not been able to capture revenue during the early spring months when power prices on the market were higher. In addition, the PUD’s investments are earning less interest with rates going down.
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The next regular meeting of the PUD commission is at 11 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, in the boardroom at PUD headquarters, 327 N. Wenatchee Ave.
Most PUD commission meetings are recorded and a link to the audio is available on the PUD’s home page at http://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