We need to stay connected

By Ann Congdon, PUD commission president

3/26/2009

There is plenty going on in Chelan County to keep PUD commissioners busy, but it’s more important than ever to be involved with state and national organizations to make sure we have a say in the big energy decisions looming.

The state Legislature and Congress are considering mandates that will bring major changes in how electricity is generated and used. The likely result is that we’ll all face higher costs for just about everything.

We’re blessed with affordable, renewable hydropower here, but ensuring that folks outside our area recognize the value of that resource is a big responsibility.

At the state level, legislators often turn to the Washington PUDs Association for public power’s point of view on these fast-evolving issues. Chelan PUD Commissioner Norm Gutzwiler is chairman of the group’s Legislative Committee and fellow commissioner Randy Smith is vice-chairman of the Energy Committee.

With wind, solar and other forms of renewable energy generation in the spotlight, Chelan PUD’s membership in Energy Northwest, a consortium of state public utilities carries more weight. Our PUD owns a 12-percent share of that agency’s Nine Canyon Wind Project. As an Energy Northwest board member, I can offer perspective on hydropower’s base load role in supporting variable wind and solar and be involved in discussions on developing biomass as another renewable energy option. 

Congress and the White House also have ambitious plans for energy policy. Last month Norm, our General Manager Rich Riazzi and I were in Washington, D.C., for a public power legislative rally organized by the American Public Power Association. The National Hydropower Association followed up with a summit of congressional leaders and public power executives including Rich.

Keeping local electricity affordable is vital with all that is ahead. Even as we reach out on state and national issues, PUD commissioners have trimmed our section of the 2009 budget by $17,860 as part of the District’s cost-savings moves.

We think it’s vital that Chelan County PUD be involved in the discussion at many levels to make sure what’s working for our customer-owners isn’t forgotten in the rush to promote new sources of energy and deal with climate change concerns.