Your PUD
News Release
Principles discussed for PUD action on climate change
Chelan County PUD
News Release
9/24/2007
Protecting and enhancing the role that hydropower will play in climate change policy is the goal behind guidelines proposed Monday to PUD commissioners. If approved, the principles would guide District decisions on the issue.
General Manager Rich Riazzi told commissioners there is little doubt the District will feel the impact of greenhouse gas initiatives being introduced at the state, regional and federal level. He said the proposed principles will provide a foundation as the PUD is drawn into policy discussions at many levels.
“The point of the principles is to have concise messages we can take to all the different forums,” Riazzi said.
He asked PUD commissioners to study the principles this week in preparation for approving them at next week’s meeting. Public comment is also sought.
The seven principles being considered are:
- Hydropower should be included as an eligible renewable resource under a national renewable portfolio standard.
- Demonstrable increases in incremental hydropower should be encouraged as “offsetting” greenhouse gases.
- Emissions legislation must include all sectors of the economy and protect our ratepayers.
- Emissions legislation should allocate allowances to assure future investments in renewable energy, efficiency improvements and conservation.
- Emissions legislation should credit utilities for their past accomplishments in renewables, energy efficiency and conservation and support the development of new technologies.
- Government grants, loans and incentives should be available to promote renewable efficiency improvements.
- Tax-based or other incentives for the development and deployment of renewable and clean energy facilities and programs should be provided on a comparable basis to all electric industry sectors including public power.
Commissioners thanked PUD staff for drafting the principles and were generally in favor of them.
In other business, commissioners:
- Heard the new, 330,000-pound transformer for the Andrew York Switchyard is making its way from Seattle and will arrive by Thursday. Rated at 250 MVA (megavolt ampere) the unit will be the largest transformer in the District system. It was manufactured by Hyundai in South Korea at the cost of about $4 million. As part of the Burch Mountain Transmission Line project, it will provide a critical third connection between the District’s transmission and distribution systems. The unit is traveling on a 200-foot-long assembly powered by trucks pushing and pulling the trailer.
- Continued discussion of strategies for the board’s own governance section of strategic planning.
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Commissioners will hold a special meeting at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 27, at the Icicle Inn in Leavenworth to meet with members of the Leavenworth Customer Partnership Group.
The next regular meeting of the PUD commission is at 1 p.m. on Oct. 1, 2007, 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 www.chelanpud.org.
Kimberlee Craig
Public Information Officer
509-661-4320, direct line
509-679-6858, cell
kimberlee.craig@chelanpud.org